5 breakout stars to watch for Philadelphia Eagles in 2020

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 05: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside #19 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 05, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 29: Nathan Gerry #47 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates a tackle against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on December 29, 2019 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /

1. OLB Nathan Gerry

Slowly but surely, he’s become a bigger factor on defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz’s unit. Nathan Gerry was a fifth-round pick in 2017 from the University of Nebraska. He played in only 10 regular-season contests as a rookie but did appear in all three postseason games for the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles. Gerry saw the vast majority of action on special teams.

In ’18, there were 13 regular-season contests and a pair of starts. The former Cornhusker also played in a pair of postseason games. There were 18 defensive stops, two passes defensed and one interception – to go along with five special teams tackles.

Gerry enjoyed his best season to date this past year. Only safeties Malcolm Jenkins (80) and Rodney McLeod (74) finished with more tackles on the team than the third-year performer. He played in all 16 contests, made a dozen starts and finished with 72 defensive stops, as well as two interceptions, five passes defensed, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery. And Gerry also wound up with six special teams tackles as well.

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Now the rangy defender enters his fourth year in the league a player on the rise. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the 6-foot-2, 230-pound pro lead Philadelphia in tackles this upcoming season.

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