Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media

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By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

In an effort to stabilize an offensive line that became the team's biggest weakness in recent years, the Giants made free agent Nate Solder the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL in March, signing the former New England Patriots left tackle to a five-year contract worth $34.8 million guaranteed.

Solder is expected to be the anchor at left tackle and an upgrade over 2015 first-round draft choice Ereck Flowers, who surrendered a 6.5 sacks last season and never came close to living up to the billing of the No. 10 overall pick in his NFL Draft class.

However, through the first games of his tenure with the Giants, Solder has been only so-so.

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Granted, the Giants' offensive line began the season breaking in five new starters, with Chad Wheeler replacing Flowers at right tackle on Sunday afternoon against the Texans, so consistency and the opportunity to build chemistry have been missing.

Also a factor: In the first three games of the season, the Giants have had to handle some opf the NFL's top defensive linemen -- Jaguars All-Pro Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue, Cowboys' All-Pro end DeMarcus Lawrence, and a Texans front seven that includes J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney.

Three weeks into his tenure with the Giants, Solder has already surrendered three sacks through three games and a handful of hurries as well.

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Despite some early-season inconsistency, Giants head coach Pat Shurmur is confident in what he's seen from Solder, and what could be in store as the chemistry up front continues to build.

"He's the same performer," Shurmur said Tuesday. "Good, great, good, however you want to put it. He plays well, and plays pretty steady all the time. Whether it's in practice, or the game. That's the way he lives his life, that's his mindset.

"He's out there trying to get better every day. He's a very steady guy. He's really added a lot to our team."

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There are 13 games remaining for Solder to improve, and the offensive line -- with Wheeler in at right tackle and John Greco replacing injured Jon Halapio at center -- played remarkably better in Sunday's 27-22 victory over the Texans in Houston.

But why hasn't Solder, with his New England Patriots pedigree and two championships -- lived up to his mammoth contract?

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Reasons Giants should be confident, and worried, after beating HOU

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Through three weeks of the season, Manning has been sacked 12 times. That puts the immobile 37-year-old on pace to be sacked 64 times, meaning the offensive line needs to get better in a hurry.

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Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

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Has Solder helped in pass-protection?

Manning has averaged roughly 36.5 passing attempts per game this season (38 times a game over the past three seasons). Protecting Manning's blindside is essential.

According to Pro Football Focus, pass blocking has been Solder's strong suit this season, but he's just an average pass protector compared to the rest of the league.

Solder has surrendered three sacks while a pass-blocking grade from PFF of 76.6. Among offensive tackles with a minimum of 100 snaps, Solder ranks 18th in the NFL.

In the season-opener, Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngaoue gave Solder all he could handle:

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Yannick Ngakoue wrecks Nate Solder with the inside club-swim/arm over. pic.twitter.com/FKyFoOw2U5 — Ty Wurth (@WurthDraft) September 9, 2018

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"I think we have a lot to improve, and I think that our protection can improve," Solder said after the 20-15 loss in which Manning was sacked twice and hit six more times. ... "We need to improve because we know the next team is going to be watching the same film, they're going to attack us in similar ways and we got to get better at those things."

In Week 2, the Cowboys took advantage of the Giants' lack of chemistry with stunts and blitz packages. Manning was sacked six times; Solder allowed two.

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It wasn't entirely Solder's fault, but the Cowboys in Week 2 terrorized the overmatched Giants' offensive line with exotic blitz packages and line stunts that seemed to exploit a lack of chemistry up front.

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.@giants have MAJOR issues with basic assignment football and the fallout is affecting the Coach and the QB. There is ZERO trust that the protection will hold up in any given play. If you don’t think it can’t get worse...??? #BaldyBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/5aZjs3IIfv — Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) September 17, 2018

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The vets screw up also. On this play, DAL 50 is blitzing. Jonathan Stewart is gonna pick him up. Nate Solder (76) joins Will Hernandez (71) in blocking DAL 98 and that allows DAL 97 to run free. Silly. pic.twitter.com/SL3j3Y5E17 — Mark Wishnia™ (@mewishnia) September 18, 2018

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via GIPHY

Solder did a nice job recovering here against Lawrence. Manning's quick release helped, but Solder did a quality job of bumping Lawrence off his rush-lane to preserve a clean pocket.

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But there's hope: Solder played better as the Patriots' season went on last year, earning him high praise, and higher grades, from PFF:

Solder allowed just 25 total pressures across his 358 pass-block snaps in his final 10 games (including playoffs), ranked tied for eighth in PFF’s pass-blocking efficiency (94.7) among offensive tackles with 250 pass-blocking snaps in said span.

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Lost in all the “New Kids On the Block” at OL for the @Giants was LT Nate Solder putting on a CLINIC. Didn’t allow a single QB pressure. Did Clowney play in that game? #GMEN — Shaun O'Hara (@ShaunOHara60) September 24, 2018

Perhaps that turnaround is already under way: Solder had his finest pass-blocking performance of the season in Sunday's 27-22 win over the Texans.

And if the Giants continue to use an empty backfield in the passing game -- as they did with success against the Texans -- there will be little room for error for Solder and other offensive linemen.

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What about Solder's run-blocking?

Where are the holes?

The Giants, desperate to craft a running game after seasons of failure, chose running back Saquon Barkley with the second pick of the draft. The former Penn State star has shown the NFL an uncanny ability to make tacklers miss, which is a good thing, because the first tackler often confronts him behind the line of scrimmage.

Barkley is (somehow) averaging 4.7 yards per rush (46 carries for 216 yards), even though he is frequently getting hit in the backfield while running behind Solder and the rest of the Giants' offensive line.

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John Munson | NJ Advance Media f

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Solder has earned a Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade of 53.6, which puts him at No. 46 in the NFL among tackles with 100 snaps or more this season.

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Solder was dominant against Clowney, particularly in the running game.

On a 13-yard run for a first down in the first quarter by Barkley, Solder forced Clowney to the outside and out of the play.

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via GIPHY

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In Week 2 against the Cowboys, Solder cleared a path for Barkley by winning his battle against All-Pro defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

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via GIPHY

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Giants' Kerry Wynn off to 'relentless' start to season

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Duane Burleson | AP Photo

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What is Solder's overall grade?

There is no doubt that Solder has been an upgrade over Flowers, now demoted, at left tackle. But Solder has so far failed to live up to expectations.

Through the first three weeks, Solder's overall PFF grade is 66.0, which ranks as the No. 27 overall offensive tackle in the league.

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Here's a look at the overall grades and rankings of some of the offensive linemen who were free agents this past offseason:

Andre Smith (Cincinnati Bengals): 59.3

Andrew Norwell (Jaguars): 57.4, No. 54 overall offensive guard

Chris Hubbard (Browns): 57.5, No. 55 offensive tackle

Weston Richburg (49ers): 60.4, No. 20 overall center

Justin Pugh (Arizona Cardinals): 51.3, No. 64 overall guard

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HOW TO REACH ME:

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

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Matt Lombardo, Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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