Eagles NFL Draft Results: Nathan Gerry selected by Philadelphia at 184

The Philadelphia Eagles select Nebraska defender Nathan Gerry with the No. 184 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Gerry played safety in college but the Eagles are announcing him as a linebacker.

Gerry, 22, measures in at 6-2, 218 pounds. He played four years the Cornhuskers and racked up 273 total tackles (19 for loss), 19 passes defensed, 13 interceptions, three forced fumbles, and two sacks.

The Eagles don’t need an immediate starter at linebacker but adding depth is important. Philadelphia is expected to move on from Mychal Kendricks at some point so Gerry gives the Eagles a backup who can also contribute on special teams.

Here’s a scouting on Gerry from NFL.com.

Strengths: Chiseled from granite. Controlled, downhill shuffle from the box to mirror running back. Plays with advanced instincts against both run and pass. Anticipates patterns and can play ahead of receiver's breaks. Will not hesitate to fire into the passing lane. Has soft hands with plus ball skills leading to thirteen career interceptions. Races into his run support work. Can adjust his run fits according to flow of the play. Decisive when triggering downhill from high safety position. Takes smart angles to the ball with a good feel for speed vs. space. Looks to make tackles near line of scrimmage. Played combo safety role and has experience with slot coverage.

Weaknesses: Plays with tightness in his lower half. Linear attacker with need for excessive gear-down to redirect his weight. Restricted strider with limited play range. Missed excessive amount of tackles over last two seasons. Lacks desired agility and change of direction in tight quarters to secure shifty runners. Slow to flip hips and accelerate down the field. Lacks speed, range and length to play single-high safety on pro level. Susceptible to separation when asked to work from backpedal.

Draft Projection: Prior Free Agent

NFL Comparison: Shiloh Keo

Bottom Line: Rocked-up strong safety type who can play near the line of scrimmage and operate in zone coverage. Gerry's lack of reactive agility will limit him in man coverage and create inconsistencies as a tackler, but he's very instinctive and will get to more plays than he should. Gerry has the urgent play demeanor needed to become a consistent contributor on special teams and fit into a fourth or fifth safety spot.

Remaining Eagles draft picks

1st - No. 14 - Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee

2nd - No. 43 - Sidney Jones, CB, Washington

3rd - No. 99 - Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia

4th - No. 118 - Mack Hollins, WR, North Carolina

4th - No. 132 - Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State

5th - No. 166 - Shelton Gibson, WR, West Virginia

5th - No. 184 - Nathan Gerry, LB, Nebraska

6th - No. 214 -

Eagles top remaining needs

Cornerback

Offensive tackle

Defensive tackle

Linebacker

2017 NFL Draft schedule

• Day 1: Round 1 – 10 minutes
• Day 2: Round 2 – 7 Minutes, Round 3 – 5 Minutes Per Pick
• Day 3: Rounds 4-6 – 5 Minutes Per Pick, Round 7 - 4 Minutes Per Pick

(Compensatory picks = 4 minutes)