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Braelon Allen. Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Three late-round RBs for the Eagles in 2024 NFL Draft

By Bruce Ewing | Last updated 2/20/24

The Philadelphia Eagles need a running back but the 2024 NFL Draft lacks high-end talent at the position. Here are three prospects they could take in the later rounds.

Braelon Allen, Wisconsin

Recruited primarily as a linebacker out of high school, Allen adjusted to his new position quickly with 1,268 yards in his first year at Wisconsin, becoming only the fourth freshman (Ron Dayne, Jonathan Taylor, James White) to rush for 1,000 yards as a Badger.

Allen averaged 5.8 yards per carry while rushing for 3,494 yards and 35 touchdowns at Wisconsin. At 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, Allen is a powerful north-south runner with the ability to move piles and break tackles but remains limited in the passing game.

.@BadgerFootball running back Braelon Allen (6-2, 235) hit 20.1 mph on his record-breaking 96-yard TD against Illinois State on Saturday. Allen’s touchdown is the longest run in #Badger history. pic.twitter.com/ULa5F7KVbJ
— Reel Analytics (@RAanalytics) September 5, 2022

Barely 20 years old, Allen still has tremendous upside. If the NFL ever outlaws the “tush-push,” Allen would be an excellent goal-line option for Philadelphia with one of their three projected fifth-round picks.

Ray Davis, Kentucky

Davis spent two years at Philadelphia’s Temple University before transferring to Vanderbilt in 2021 and then Kentucky in 2023. The well-traveled running back had 21 touchdowns and 1,452 total yards as a Wildcat last season, setting the school’s single-season scoring record and leading the SEC with 126 points while earning a first-team All-SEC nomination.

At 5-foot-10 and 216 pounds, Davis is a powerful runner with the vision and balance needed to become a three-down back. What he lacks in speed (4.56 40-yard dash) he makes up for with good hands and blitz pickup.

13 Florida defenders not enough to prevent a 4th Ray Davis touchdown for Kentucky pic.twitter.com/SSfNr1C4IC
— SEC Mike (@MichaelWBratton) September 30, 2023

The biggest concern with Davis is his age. Already 25 years old with 840 touches under his belt, some NFL general managers may feel Davis’ best days are behind him. But with a late-third, early-fourth-round draft grade, he could be Philadelphia’s next Kenneth Gainwell.

Frank Gore Jr., Southern Mississippi

Gore’s future Hall of Fame father was nearly an Eagle before reconsidering to sign with the Colts in 2015. Gore Jr. was 13 years old then but could make up for his father’s indecision in 2024.

At 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds, Gore is slightly smaller than his namesake but more versatile with 4,022 yards and 26 touchdowns as a runner, 692 yards and four touchdowns as a receiver and 380 yards with four scores as a passer as a Golden Eagle.

Frank Gore Jr. has 329 yards rushing for Southern Miss and has thrown a touchdown and has two touchdowns rushes. Son like father.
pic.twitter.com/HWHc7MV6G3
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 18, 2022

Gore ran for an FBS record 329 yards against Rice in the 2022 Lending Tree Bowl and was named offensive MVP of this year's East-West Shrine Bowl after running for 87 yards and a touchdown on just six carries.

Tagged to go anywhere from the fourth round on, Gore could move up the draft board with a strong combine performance and would be an excellent replacement for free-agent running back Boston Scott.

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