Roster cuts are comfortably the most difficult stretch of the NFL calendar. There is no fun in hundreds of players being informed that they are out of a job, and the Dallas Cowboys were no different leading up to Tuesday's 53-man deadline.
The Cowboys' cuts marked the end of Deuce Vaughn's tenure. A sixth-round pick in 2023, Vaughn was among the team's first wave of releases and he will have to clear waivers before they can attempt to sign him back to the practice squad.
While Dallas seemingly would love to get Vaughn back, he might want to branch out to another team that can better utilize his skill set. A lot of squads could use Vaughn, but the Chicago Bears are a no-brainer fit for the former Kansas State phenom.
The Bears are an obvious landing spot for Deuce Vaughn after Cowboys release
The Bears only have one healthy running back right now, and that is starter D'Andre Swift. Behind Swift, they have two bruising backs in Roschon Johnson and rookie Kyle Monangai. Vet Travis Homer is still kicking around, but he only received six carries last season.
Johnson is dealing with a foot injury, while Monangai missed a preseason game with an undisclosed injury. Even Homer (calf) and Deion Hankins (concussion) are banged up.
Beyond the injuries, both Johnson and Monangai are bigger, physical backs. The Bears don't have a running back on the roster with Vaughn's skill set. Swift is a proven pass catcher out of the backfield, but as far as being unleashed as a scat back with his own package? He doesn't offer that.
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That's where head coach and play-caller Ben Johnson could have some fun with Vaughn. Cowboys fans know all too well how innovative of an offensive mind Johnson is from their clashes with the Lions in recent years.
Johnson runs a lot of 12 personnel and outside zone runs. That is much more tailored to Vaugn's skill set relative to the physical foundations of Brian Schottenheimer's run game. Even though Vaughn performed well in preseason relative to expectations, at 5-foot-6 and 176 pounds he was a questionable fit at best in Schottenheimer's offense.
Vaughn needs to go to a team that needs a change-of-pace back, as well as a play-caller willing - and capable - of putting him in the best position to succeed.
Johnson has a lot on his plate in year one on the job in Chicago, but we're hard-pressed to think of a better fit for Vaughn than the Windy City.