Cowboys could make big Deuce Vaughn mistake with final roster decision

It is pretty crazy to think that Deuce Vaughn is the last running back drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. Before Vaughn was taken in the sixth round last year, 2019 marked the most recent time the Cowboys invested in a RB when they took Ohio State's Mike Weber in round seven.

Weber never played a snap for the Cowboys, so that pick was a waste. They also used a seventh-rounder on Alabama's Bo Scarbrough the year prior in 2018. Though Scarbrough had some flashes in preseason, he never appeared in a regular season game with Dallas.

That means Ezekiel Elliott, drafted fourth overall in 2016, is the team's most recent success story in terms of drafting a running back.

Vaughn faces long odds to buck the worrying trend. His limitations were on full display last season. Many fans would agree that the Cowboys should cut ties with Vaughn after preseason, but The Athletic's Jon Machota thinks Vaughn will get another chance to prove himself.

Deuce Vaughn surprisingly projected to make Cowboys' 53-man roster

Machota's projection (subscription required) has the Cowboys' keeping four RBs: Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Hunter Luepke and Vaughn. That is obviously subject to change, and in fairness Machota mentioned that free-agent signing Royce Freeman and third-year pro Malik Davis could push to make the team.

"... It’s difficult to see Dallas keeping more than that at a position it hasn’t invested very much," Machota writes. "This is also a spot where someone not on the current roster ends up on the 53 during the season. If they aren’t getting the job done, a move will need to be made. It’s arguably Dallas’ weakest position group."

Running back and nose tackle are by far the Cowboys' weakest position groups. Regardless, is it really in Dallas' best interest to keep Vaughn? His draft story was a tear-jerker and he shined in preseason last year, but as expected he was ineffective in the regular season.

Active for just seven games, Vaughn averaged a paltry 1.7 yards per carry to go with seven receptions for 40 yards. His 40.9 PFF rushing grade was among the worst at the position, he didn't force a single missed tackle and managed just 1.52 yards after contact per attempt.

Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer lauded Vaughn's skill-set this offseason, but that's part of their job. Despite that, Vaughn worked with the wide receivers during OTAs and minicamp. It's not an official position change, but it speaks volumes to how the team views Vaughn as a rusher, does it not?

Cowboys fans would love to see Vaughn carve out a role on the offense, but it's fair to wonder if it's worth having him on the 53-man roster if he's hardly going to see the field.

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