SideLion Report
FanSided

Detroit Lions trade for a pass rusher in Eli Harold

By Steven Mullenax

DENVER, CO - AUGUST 29: Outside linebacker Eli Harold #58 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes the line of scrimmage against tight end Virgil Green #85 of the Denver Broncos during preseason action at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on August 29, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 19-12. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - AUGUST 29: Outside linebacker Eli Harold #58 of the San Francisco 49ers rushes the line of scrimmage against tight end Virgil Green #85 of the Denver Broncos during preseason action at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on August 29, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the 49ers 19-12. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Detroit Lions made a trade on Thursday, sending the San Francisco 49ers a conditional pick in 2020 for pass rushing linebacker Eli Harold.

The Detroit Lions are reportedly the only NFL team not to record a single sack in the preseason through two games. With the starters not seeing much action so far, it’s not that shocking of a stat. Yet, creating a consistent pass rush in the Motor City isn’t a new problem.

With the hiring of former New England Patriots’ defensive coordinator, Matt Patricia as the Lions’ new head coach this offseason, the hope in Motown is that his multiple scheme system will be enough to carry Detroit’s defense to new heights.

Earlier this year, the Lions retained elite pass rusher Ziggy Ansah using their franchise tag and at a cost of $17.1 million. The 29-year old is coming off a 12.0 sack season.

Detroit is also getting back defensive end Kerry Hyder. The 27-year old pass rusher posted 8.0 sacks for the Lions in 2016. Unfortunately, an Achilles’ injury robbed him of an encore performance last year. Filling in for Hyder in 2017 was former sixth-rounder Anthony Zettel, who racked up 6.5 sacks in his second season.

The trio of Ansah, Hyder, and Zettel are expected to represent the bulk of the Lions’ pass rush in 2018. But now, another name can be added to that list.

On Thursday, the Lions traded a conditional seventh-round selection in 2020 to the San Francisco 49ers for linebacker Eli Harold. That according to several news sources.

A former third-round selection out of Virginia, Harold was seen as a high-motor pass rusher coming out of college. He recorded a total of 29.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks during his final two years with the Cavaliers.

Next. The Detroit Lions All-Time Defensive Team. dark

The 24-year old Harold played strongside linebacker for the Niners last season, recording 34 combined tackles and 2.0 sacks starting in 10 games. And his career so far has been plagued by poor technique and inconsistency. Perhaps a change in scenery and a focus on pass rush could tap into the massive potential Harold showed coming out of Virginia.

Home/Lions News