Shortly after joining, Eagles quarterback Will Shipley received a very cool text.Apparently, Saquon Barkley is also pretty quick on the field. Because the Eagles’ two-time Pro Bowl linebacker is sure to welcome his new backup in Philadelphia shortly after the Eagles drafted Shipley out of Clemson on Saturday.
“[Barkley] contacted me on the phone on the day of the draft. I’m sure he got the number from the Eagles,” Shipley said during a Zoom call with Eagles reporters. “Just sent me a text saying, ‘Congratulations, I’m ready to go’. So I was ready.”The Eagles selected Shipley with the 127th overall pick in the 2024 draft and will add him to a linebacker group that already includes Barkley and fourth-year pro Kenny Ganwell. Shipley will likely be in the rotation from day one. At Clemson, Shipley was known for his dual abilities as a runner and receiving threat out of the backfield. Barkley was the second overall pick in 2018 and one of the best running backs in the NFL with two dangerous backs. That’s why Shipley can’t wait to work with him and learn from him.
“Yeah, that’s one of the big things for me is that I keep trying to get as much knowledge from him as I can,” Shipley said.“I know he’s one of the best guys in the league to do that, so I don’t take the opportunity to learn from a guy like that. You know, I’m going to try to get as much out of it as possible, that’s for sure.Barkley reaching Shipley is a good sign for the Eagles. Barkley was New York’s leader during his six years with the Giants, but he is in a new locker room for the first time in his NFL career. Earlier this spring, Brandon Graham said he believed Barkley could immediately become the leader of the backfield, and that has already happened.
Based on his draft position alone, Shealy has little chance of becoming a top running back in the NFL. But he can be a functional member of the rotation, and having Saquon help him along the way only helps. Shipley (5-11, 206) was a three-year starter for the Tigers and excelled each year. His best season came in 2022, when he eclipsed 1,400 yards, and he eclipsed 1,000 yards again in 2023. Despite dislocating his fibula in the bowl game, Shipley announced Saturday that he is fully healthy. He even had a private workout with Eagles running back Jermall Singleton. At the NFL combine this offseason, Shipley said he likes to compare his game to Christian McCaffrey. Since Shipley was born in North Carolina, he actually developed a relationship with McCaffrey, even working with McCaffrey’s brother, Luke, a receiver who was selected in the third round on Friday, during the pre-draft process.
As a result, Shipley has been able to learn from what most consider to be the best running back in the NFL. Now he’s joined by another elite talent in Barkley. Shipley has seen an awful lot of Barkley over the years.“Oh hell yes,” he said. “I was a big fan of Saccone when he was at Penn State and the Giants and now in Philadelphia. He contacted me very quickly after I was drafted, just a few minutes, so I’m excited to work with him. All of these guys share the back seat. “You know, I know I’m going to give it my all and do whatever the team needs me to do to be successful. Whatever it takes, I’m willing to do it. So I’m excited to learn from a guy like Sacon and share with all of our big backs.