The Eagles made a splash to open free agency this offseason, signing former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year contract. Barkley, a two-time Pro Bowl selection and former Offensive Rookie of the Year, will lead a strong running back room filled with young talent.
Kenneth Gainwell is going into Year 4 coming off of a career-high 364 yards rushing in 2023. 2022 third-round pick Tyrion Davis-Price was signed in February after spending time on the 49ers' practice squad and appearing in one game. Lew Nichols spent time on the Eagles' practice squad in 2023 before being re-signed to a futures contract. Fourth-round pick Will Shipley brings speed, athleticism, and flexibility. Shipley totaled 2,747 yards and 31 rushing touchdowns in three years with Clemson and showed his versatility, tallying 602 receiving yards and 85 career receptions. The former Tigers running back averaged 26.6 yards per kickoff return and ranked inside the top 10 in school history with 4,253 all-purpose yards. Undrafted free agent Kendall Milton rushed for 790 yards and a team-best 14 touchdowns for Georgia in 2023. Milton brings a strong frame at 6-foot-1, 232-pounds.
New to the Nest: Saquon Barkley (free agency), Tyrion Davis-Price (futures), Will Shipley (draft), Kendall Milton (UDFA)
Bird Talk: "I'm so excited to just share a backfield with all those guys, I know that I'm going to go in and I'm gonna work my butt off and I'm going to do whatever the team needs me to do to be successful. Whatever that takes is what I'm willing to do, so, could not be happier to learn from someone like Saquon (Barkley), and share a backfield with all the great backs that we have." – rookie running back Will Shipley
Notable Stat: Kenneth Gainwell is tied for the most rushing touchdowns (5) by a rookie in franchise history. Shipley, who scored 31 touchdowns with Clemson, scored at least five touchdowns in each of his three seasons, including 15 in 2022 and 11 in 2021. The incoming rookie showed a knack for the end zone in college that he will look to translate at the next level.
Under the Microscope: The depth of the running back room is as solid as it's been under Head Coach Nick Sirianni going into 2024. The star-power of Barkley backed up by the experience of Gainwell will match up well with the newcomers of Shipley, Davis-Price, and Milton. The speed of Shipley, who ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at his Pro Day, mixed with the power and size of Davis-Price and Milton provide numerous options at the position. It will be interesting to follow how the backfield is utilized by the Eagles with different run styles across the board, along with how much usage Barkley will get. – Written by Liam Wichser
