The San Francisco 49ers traded linebacker Eli Harold, one of the first players to join Colin Kaepernick in his anthem protests, to the Detroit Lions in what has become a three-year tradition of preseason deals, a report says.
If the Lions keep Harold for more than four weeks into the regular season, the 49ers will receive a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, according to ESPN.
“Our entire organization would like to thank Eli for his hard work and contributions to our team and the Bay Area community over the last three years,” 49ers GM John Lynch said in a statement. “He always represented the 49ers with class and has been a tremendous teammate. We wish Eli and his wife, Kelsey, nothing but the best in the years to come.”
Of note, Harold’s exit from the team marks the release of the last of the original 49ers who took a knee during the playing of the national anthem. Both Eric Reid and original anthem protester Colin Kaepernick were not re-signed after they became free agents.
Harold, who will turn free agent at the end of the 2018 season, did not want to comment on the move.
“I understand why everyone would want to ask the questions, but I just don’t want to get into that right now,” Harold told the media. “I’m trying to focus on ball. Me and my wife had a discussion, and we feel it’s best right now that I just don’t answer those questions and try to stick to ball, if you don’t mind.”
Harold has started 23 games in the last two seasons and 48 games since 2014. But according to ESPN, his play has been unexceptional.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.
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