San Francisco 49ers: Who is linebacker Eli Harold?
By Peter Panacy
Niner Noise’s annual “Who Is?” series on San Francisco 49ers players in 2017 shifts focus to linebacker Eli Harold and his potential impact with the team this season.
Third-year pro linebacker Eli Harold will be looking to have a much bigger impact with the San Francisco 49ers than his previous two seasons at the NFL level.
Harold, selected by the Niners in Round 3 of the 2015 NFL Draft, hasn’t quite turned into a starting-caliber replacement on the outside since being drafted.
And yet he did manage to start 13 games last season, part of a historically bad 49ers defense.
Provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 6/1/2017.
Yet Harold did flash some promise at the tail end of last season, recording two sacks over San Francisco’s final three games.
With the Niners now switching to a 4-3 base defense, what should Harold’s projection be for the upcoming season. And how will he either show improvement or regress?
Let’s take a look.
San Francisco 49ers
Why He’ll Improve
Two years isn’t totally enough time to write off a mid-round selection as a draft bust. And the sight of Harold’s pass-rushing abilities coming to light late in 2016 is a cause for hope.
Overall, Harold posted a 53.1 pass-rush grade last year, according to Pro Football Focus. Yet he also had a 69.1 PFF coverage grade, which suggests he might be more acclimated to coverage duties in passing downs.
But this wasn’t his role at Virginia, where he was known almost strictly as an EDGE.
The 49ers’ switch to a 4-3 means Harold likely backs up veteran linebacker Ahmad Brooks as the SAM. This strong-side linebacker often engages in coverage, so we can see the fit. And Brooks is probably better suited as a pass-rusher at this point in his career anyway.
So this gives Harold a bona fide role heading into the 2017 season, and it could be one in which he does moderately well.
Why He’ll Regress
One of the problems with Harold has been his inconsistency. It’s something that has been of note, ever since SB Nation’s Stephen White wrote this pre-NFL Draft breakdown on Harold back in 2015.
This was the case in 2016. And even though Harold started 13 games, this was due mostly to the Niners not having any other realistic option.
There’s also some concern whether or not the 4-3 base will be good for him. According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s 2015 scouting profile, Harold was best suited for an EDGE role in a 3-4 base scheme. Not what the 49ers are going to use now.
This may not be a major deal, and it’s worth pointing out some scouts tabbed Harold as a fringe first-round pick that year.
But the on-field impact has yet to be felt, and it seems as if Harold is heading more towards being a mere OK backup option.
What to Expect in 2017
The 49ers have been starting Brooks at the SAM linebacker spot during OTAs thus far, per Niners Wire’s Chris Biderman.
Brooks, 33 years old and in a contract year, probably isn’t in San Francisco’s long-term plans. Ideally, Harold winds up being the guy to replace the aging veteran in 2018.
More from Niner Noise
- Predicting 49ers NFL Draft picks by looking at final mocks
- DraftKings NFL Draft Promo – Win $150 Guaranteed on Any $5 Bet
- 2023 NFL Draft: EDGE Byron Young could be impact player for 49ers
- 5 low-key NFL Draft options for 49ers who are flying under the radar
- Updated 49ers salary cap space ahead of 2023 NFL Draft
So that gives Harold one last chance to prove himself, even if it’s in a reserve role. Relegating Harold to more pass-coverage duties might be the smart way to go, and any pass rush generated would only be a bonus at this point.
Look for Harold to see plenty of time on the field as the Niners rotate out their front seven, especially in coverage situations.
Next: The top player to watch from each NFL team in 2017
And if Brooks slows down or suffers some sort of injury, Harold will wind up being the go-to guy at SAM.