GM Ryan Pace appears to have shut down the Chicago Bears free agency operation for the time being. Over the past couple of weeks, he’s restricted moves to only re-signing in-house players. Pat O’Donnell, Tyler Bray, and DeAndre Houston-Carson being the most recent. Yet the team still has a large chunk of the depth chart unfilled. An estimated 27 spots. Given they only have five draft picks, it stands to reason they’re not done spending.

Why the waiting then? This has to do with the status of their compensatory draft selections. Thanks to the losses of Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan, the Bears are lined up to secure 4th and 5th round picks in 2020. The problem is if they keep spending on veteran free agents, they risk losing them. This means they must wait until May 8th to resume spending.

That is when the deadline for free agents to count against the compensatory formula will have passed. That means the Bears will be locked into their picks and can sign anybody they want. So are there any names out there who should be available they’re likely to take a shot at? Knowing Pace and how he likes to operate, this is one name to circle.

Eli Harold feels like a typical Chicago Bears free agent move

Pace has a track record of targeting free agents who fit two criteria. They must be on the younger side and they must be trending up in their careers in some capacity. A combing over of the current landscape will lead people to the name Eli Harold. Most casual fans won’t know it, so here’s a recap.

Harold was a 3rd round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in 2015. He spent three seasons there as a backup before being traded to the Detroit Lions last season. There he achieved a career-best four sacks in 13 games as a reserve pass rusher. Despite already having four years of experience, he just turned 25-years old. So he’s still just entering his prime.

Great breakdown of the #Lions scheme here. But more importantly look at the path Eli Harold took to get this sack. Chipped the running back then stuck with the play and didn’t quit. The hustle paid off big for him and the Lions defense on this play #OnePride pic.twitter.com/J5ZRtjD3Ek — Detroit Lions News (@SportsGuyDET) September 29, 2018

What’s crazy is in that time he’s played under four different defensive coordinators. Two of those seasons were spent in a 4-3 defensive system even though he was a drafted to be a 3-4 linebacker. It’s safe to say Harold hasn’t always been used as he should’ve been in the past. Even so, the fact he’s managed to keep improving is a good sign.

The Bears have a glaring need for depth at outside linebacker behind Khalil Mack and Leonard Floyd. Harold is young with upside should be had for cheap compared to other top edge rushers still on the market. Teaming him with a possible draft pick with give the Bears nice options to mold moving forward.