After only four running backs have been selected in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft, Clemson RB Will Shipley is among the best remaining at his position.
Texas’ Jonathan Brooks and Florida State’s Trey Benson were the first two running backs selected, followed by Michigan’s Blake Corum and USC’s Marshawn Lloyd in the latter half of Round 3. It’s plausible to expect the run on RBs to start eventually, and Day 3 is the perfect time for that.
Let’s take a look at why Shipley is still available, despite a successful college career with the Tigers.
Update: Will Shipley was drafted No. 127 overall in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Eagles, who traded up to select him (from the Houston Texans).
How Did Will Shipley Fall In the NFL Draft?
Shipley’s draft stock was certainly impacted by the lack of running backs selected throughout the first two days of the draft.
Before the draft kicked off, Pro Football Network’s NFL Draft analyst Ian Cummings initially had Shipley as a top 100 prospect and within the top five running backs in this class. However, Cummings has Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright, who’s likewise still waiting to hear his name called, as a top 100 prospect as well.
After Shipley and Wright, Cummings had Day 3 grades on Notre Dame running back Audric Estimé and Wisconsin’s Braelon Allen, too. Now that these five, talented RBs are all remaining on the same day, teams will be audacious in drafting which one they want.
Shipley’s draft stock could have taken a hit because injuries derailed his 2023 campaign. He was rarely 100 percent healthy during his final season at Clemson, and his bowl game was cut short by a knee injury that did not require surgery.
Lastly, Shipley’s smaller frame could create some question marks about his long-term durability. He measured at 5’11” which is the 57th percentile in direct comparison to his peers at the running back position. He weighed in at 206 pounds, which is lighter for a running back, and placed him in the 28th percentile.
“[Shipley] doesn’t quite have the mass to consistently bowl through tackle attempts,” Cummings wrote in his scouting report. “He lacks the lower body strength and powerful leg churn to push piles forward.”
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Draft Grades
Despite the weaknesses, Shipley will provide value to whatever team drafts him on Day 3. He’s a versatile talent who spent time as a running back, receiver, and returner during his time with the Tigers.
While he might have to wait a little bit longer than anticipated to hear his name called because of the lack of attention on his position this draft, he still has three-down, volume upside with rare explosiveness.
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