Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: HB Will Shipley, Clemson

The Las Vegas Raiders should use one of their late-round draft picks on a running back.

As of now, the Las Vegas Raiders are set to have eight picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, which gives them considerable room to address several position groups.

The Raiders should draft a running back to have a young option for at least the next four years, but with the need for a back likely not being high on Las Vegas' priority list, they should do so on Day 3.

A halfback prospect who could be available when Day 3 rolls around is Will Shipley of Clemson.

Shipley recorded 827 rushing yards, five rushing touchdowns, 244 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in 12 games (eight starts) for the Tigers last season. He was named an All-ACC honorable mention and an All-ACC Third Team honoree by Phil Steele and College Football Network.

The prospect helped lead Clemson to a 9-4 record, including a narrow 38-35 win over Kentucky in the Gator Bowl, in which he posted 134 all-purpose yards that included a 60-yard kickoff return to contirbute to the Tigers' late comeback. They were down 21-10 going into the fourth quarter.

Pro Football Focus gave Shipley an overall grade of 72.9 for his 2023 season.

Shipley did not participate in NFL Combine drills but demonstrated his skills at Clemson's Pro Day. NFL Next Gen Stats gave the 5-foot-11, 206-pound halfback an athleticism score of 85, which ranked fifth among halfbacks in his draft class. He also received a total score of 75 (seventh among halfbacks) and a production score of 66.

The following is NFL analyst Lance Zierlein's evaluation of Shipley:

"Versatile running back with talent as a runner, receiver and kick returner. Shipley possesses early speed, allowing him to whip through creases and outrun linebackers to the corner. He’s a flexible runner who reads up to the linebackers and curates his runs with a feel for both defensive positioning and run lane development. He can balance through contact but is unlikely to move NFL piles. Shipley does a nice job of setting up opponents from anywhere on the field and has the agility to hop and hurdle over bodies. He’s not a workhorse and still has work to do in order to solidify himself as a third-down option, but the athletic talent and skill level could create an early pathway into a spot as a productive RB2."

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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