Eli Harold gives the Detroit Lions depth at Jack linebacker

The Detroit Lions traded a conditional 2020 pick for Eli Harold. What they gained is a once promising pass rushing linebacker prospect in need of a new environment.

Kyle Meinke of the Mlive.com is reporting that the Detroit Lions have traded for Eli Harold. Harold was a third-round pick in the 2015 draft. The price the Lions paid, however, is a conditional 2020 seventh round pick.

Harold’s story is one that should remind Lions fans of Kyle Van Noy. Harold was drafted as a promising pass rusher coming out of college. He did not see much action as a rookie, he took on a special teams role on kick coverage teams.

In Harold’s second season, he saw a lot more action. playing 68% of the team’s defensive snaps, but he was badly misused. He was on the field primarily in the team’s run defense packages and never really developed as a pass rusher.

Last year a new coaching staff came on board, and Harold was a square peg in a round hole. He spent a season playing as an strong side linebacker in their 4-3 base packages. That is a role for which he has the athleticism, but not the skill set.

Harold is not going to start for the Lions. He is not going to fix the team’s pass rush woes. What he will do is provide a workable backup for Devon Kennard.

Kennard was brought in to play an attacking linebacker role for the team, but the Lions had not really brought in any depth for the role behind him. With Harold, they fill that depth need.

The condition of the 2020 pick is very likely either that Harold make the team. There is no guarantee of that, Harold has not inspired much confidence with his level of play in San Francisco. The Lions, however, have a much more likely landing spot for him.

Harold brings some urgency to the Lions roster. He will be looking for a fresh start. He will also give some players who were thinking they might make the team based on a lack of competition for roles something to think about over the next two weeks.