4 veterans who’ll be pushed off 49ers roster by 2021 draft picks
By Peter Panacy
No. 3: 49ers Linebacker Nathan Gerry
Like Tom Compton, it was a bit of a surprise the 49ers signed former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nathan Gerry this offseason, particularly in light with his pass-coverage struggles that were on full display when he was tasked with assuming a bigger role the last two seasons.
Perhaps it was nothing more than a low-budget move to guard against the Niners not getting anyone either during or after the draft to help bolster a relatively top-heavy unit comprised of Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw and then questionable depth down the line.
Nevertheless, San Francisco added two undrafted rookies to the fray in Ohio State’s Justin Hilliard and Kansas State’s Elijah Sullivan.
Hilliard, in particular, received some rave reviews from his former Buckeyes teammate, EDGE Nick Bosa, and that’s about as good an endorsement the first-year pro has despite having a relatively too-lengthy college career because of multiple injuries.
If healthy, however, Hilliard could easily push a player like Gerry off the list. It wouldn’t be shocking whatsoever if the former Ohio State standout winds up securing one of those depth spots on the 53-man roster, subsequently forcing Gerry out of the equation.