The Giants celebrated the NFL's new league year opening on Wednesday by giving Eli Manning and the offense a gift: The best offensive tackle on the market in Nate Solder.

The #Giants are expected to sign former #Patriots LT Nate Solder, source said. They get their franchise left tackle. Huge get. — Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2018

Solder's deal is worth $62 million over four years, with $35 million guaranteed, a source confirmed to NJ Advance Media. That makes him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

Reports surfaced late Tuesday that Solder had reduced his choices to the Giants and Houston Texans. He immediately inherits a starting job at left tackle, where the Giants previously had under-performing Ereck Flowers.

The Cleveland Browns also had expressed interest in Solder during the Legal Tampering Period as a potential replacement for Joe Thomas.

Solder, 29, becomes the anchor of the line and brings with him quality veteran leadership into a locker room that is in desperate need of it. He has never made a Pro Bowl in seven seasons, however.

A two-time Super Bowl champion, Solder was chosen by the New England Patriots in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of Colorado.

Last season, Solder allowed six sacks, 10 pressures, 19 quarterback hits and was called for seven penalties.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport was first to report Solder to the Giants and the contract figures.

Revamping the offensive line is a top priority of general manager Dave Gettleman, and Solder's signing comes one day after All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell -- believed to have been the Giants' top free agency target -- chose the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Solder is another in a line of Patriots who have bolted New England, including WR Danny Amendola, CB Malcolm Butler and RB Dion Lewis.

Solder, who battled testicular cancer before the 2014 season, has a toddler son who is fighting kidney cancer. Hudson Solder was diagnosed at 3 months old in October 2015, and recently restarted chemotherapy treatments.

Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoPHL.