Will Shipley put up 16 bench presses at his pro day. Checking the 2024 Combine results, that would have put him roughly in the middle of the RBs. Yet this clown writer keeps insisting that Shipley doesn't have the strength to run up the middle and that he should be mainly a receiver in the NFL.
Just like almost all White WRs are racially stereotyped as slot receivers by the draft "gurus" whether it's their best position or not, a pure running back with excellent receiving skills, the same, to use a favorite Caste term, "mouth watering" package as Christian McCaffrey, has to somehow be diminished. Shipley's tape and his stats at Clemson show he has a similar skill set to McCaffrey. Whether he turns out to be that good or not, he certainly should be someone teams would want to give that opportunity to.
8. Will Shipley - Clemson - 5-11, 206 pounds
If I'm being honest, I think Shipley might make a better slot receiver in the NFL than a true running back. Shipley's tape shows an athletic back with great pass-catching skills that moves well in open space. I don't love his work between the tackles because his power is extremely lacking (almost like a slot receiver running the ball between the tackles). I do like his feet and vision and think he'll be a nice part of a running back committee.
I just wouldn't ever want him to be the primary ball carrier on early downs. If the Chiefs wanted to take him in the fifth round and use him as a passing game weapon both out of the backfield and out of the slot, I'm all for it. I worry about his ability to take over the Jerick McKinnon role because his lack of power shows up in pass protection, too.
https://arrowheadaddict.com/posts/2024-nfl-draft-top-20-running-back-prospects-kansas-city-chiefs/3
(If anyone wants to contact the author his bio page gives his twitter account address.)