Thumbs up or down: Eagles beat writers weigh in on drafting Will Shipley

The Eagles seemed likely to draft a running back this year, especially on the third day. There was depth there, and with the depreciation of the position, there have been opportunities in recent drafts to find value. Will Shipley could have gone in the third or fifth round, so the Eagles grabbing him in the fourth didn’t seem a reach.

He was a productive back at Clemson who projects as a complementary piece in the NFL. He also has return skills and could be another prospect who vies for the kick returner role with the rule change.

Shipley doesn’t have to come in and play right away, although running back may have the easiest learning curve at the next level. The Eagles brought in Saquon Barkley to be the workhouse, and Kenneth Gainwell returns for a fourth season — the last in his rookie deal.

Shipley would be a potential replacement if Gainwell were to leave in free agency next offseason. But it’s not as if Gainwell has a lock on the No. 2 job this season. In college, Shipley displayed vision, patience, and feel as a runner. He could be a fit for Jeff Stoutland’s run schemes and take advantage of the creases created by one of the better run-blocking offensive lines. Shipley, who did a solid job of finishing off runs, could help an Eagles run offense that finished near the bottom in yards after contact last season.

He’s not especially big, though, at 5-foot-11 and 206 pounds. The modern game doesn’t need mountain movers, but can he hold up over a 17-game season? Shipley caught a fair amount of passes out of the backfield and occasionally from the slot for Clemson. He wasn’t the most natural receiver. But when he got the ball in his hands, he made defenders miss in the open field. He doesn’t quite have breakaway speed.

Overall, the pick made sense. The Eagles took Shipley before a run on running backs. The Bills took Kentucky’s Ray Davis and the 49ers selected Louisville’s Isaac Guerendo at the next two spots. The Jets chose Wisconsin running back Braelon Allen five picks after that. We’ll see who got the best guy.

There were, of course, options at other positions. Few third-day selections pan out, though. If Shipley ends up anywhere on par with Gainwell — a fifth-rounder — it’ll be a success.

Going into the draft, I suspected that the Eagles would snag a running back. While they added Barkley in free agency, they lost some depth by not re-signing Boston Scott and Rashaad Penny. Before this year, the last time the Eagles selected a running back in the draft was in 2019 with Gainwell (fifth round out of Memphis).

The Eagles took Shipley early in a run on running backs in the fourth round (second of four selected in a span of five picks and five overall within 10). They traded back from 123 to 127 with the Houston Texans and drafted him, picking up a 2025 fifth-round pick in the process. So, even if Shipley doesn’t pan out, the Eagles at least got good value in the trade.

In general, the selection of a running back in the fourth round and the trade back to acquire him makes sense. But can Shipley make an impact as a situational player in the Eagles backfield? He carved out a role as a three-year starter at Clemson thanks to his versatility as a runner, receiver, and returner. . In 2022, he earned first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in three categories — running back, all-purpose, and kick returner — making him the first player in conference history to do so.

That versatility could help him get on the field early on in his Eagles career. He’s a talented receiver (averaged 7.1 yards per reception in 36 games) and is shifty with the ball in his hands, both in the running and passing games. The Eagles also love his mentality, bestowing a “red star” upon him before the draft.

However, at 5-11 and 206, Shipley is undersized for a running back (51st percentile in height, 24th in weight, according to MockDraftable). While there are certainly examples of him maintaining balance and running through contact on film, there are also examples of him going down easily.

Shipley’s lack of size is only going to get magnified in the NFL, where defenders are bigger and stronger. Shipley could certainly improve his strength, but it’s fair to wonder why he didn’t at Clemson.

He also has a history of ball-security issues, including seven fumbles in the last two seasons. Shipley has struggled in pass protection, which will need improvement if he wants to become a third-down back. While there’s a lot to like about Shipley, there are also reasons to be skeptical about his potential.

With the Eagles’ history of targeting scatbacks on Day 3 of the draft, Shipley fits the mold of an undersized but agile runner capable of influencing the passing game as a receiver out of the backfield as well.

Especially considering Barkley’s expected workload, Shipley’s primary value may come on passing downs. He had more than 30 catches in each of his last two seasons with Clemson and projects as a complementary piece in the Eagles’ rebuilt running back committee centered on Barkley.

Even though Barkley is a capable receiver himself, Shipley could earn a handful of plays on passing downs when his catching ability can pose a threat. But that role might be limited considering the lack of running-back targets the Eagles’ offense has had the last few years with Jalen Hurts at the controls.

Strictly as a ball carrier, Shipley has some question marks. At 5-11 and 206, he isn’t the type to motor through contact consistently, although he runs without fear and will drop his shoulder to fight for extra yards at times. He also had some ball-security issues with three fumbles last season and eight over the course of his career.

Shipley’s special-teams versatility is important to note as well. Shipley was an all-ACC return specialist and could make an impact with the league’s new kickoff rules.

Overall, Shipley fits nicely as a change-of-pace back behind Barkley with some special-teams upside, which explains the pick. The running backs taken immediately after him will likely inform the true value of the selection, but the rationale is hard to quibble with.