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The New England Patriots have signed first-round draft choice Nate Solder, an offensive lineman.
"Nate signed, so we had him in today," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He'll be out on the field. It's good to have all the draft choices signed."
The Patriots did not release details, but a league source said it is a four-year contract, which is standard for first-round picks.
Solder, the 17th overall pick in the draft, was the Patriots' lone unsigned selection. He had missed the first seven days of training camp.
The 6-foot-8, 319-pounder played left tackle at Colorado.
"He's big, he can run, he's a good pass-blocker, he's a good run-blocker," Belichick said. "He plays on his feet. He's long."
The Patriots re-signed veteran Matt Light to continue to be the starter at left tackle, but he knows that the Pats might have found his eventual replacement.
"Drafting a guy that will come in and fill in for these old bones, it was inevitable," he said Wednesday. "Hopefully we'll have some fun teaching him a thing or two out here."
Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.
The New England Patriots have signed first-round draft choice Nate Solder, an offensive lineman.
"Nate signed, so we had him in today," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "He'll be out on the field. It's good to have all the draft choices signed."
The Patriots did not release details, but a league source said it is a four-year contract, which is standard for first-round picks.
Solder, the 17th overall pick in the draft, was the Patriots' lone unsigned selection. He had missed the first seven days of training camp.
The 6-foot-8, 319-pounder played left tackle at Colorado.
"He's big, he can run, he's a good pass-blocker, he's a good run-blocker," Belichick said. "He plays on his feet. He's long."
The Patriots re-signed veteran Matt Light to continue to be the starter at left tackle, but he knows that the Pats might have found his eventual replacement.
"Drafting a guy that will come in and fill in for these old bones, it was inevitable," he said Wednesday. "Hopefully we'll have some fun teaching him a thing or two out here."
Mike Reiss covers the Patriots for ESPNBoston.com.
