Cowboys clearly close to ending Deuce Vaughn experiment after desperate move

It seemed like a formality that the Dallas Cowboys would draft a running back this year. When push came to shove, though, they preferred Notre Dame linebacker Maris Liufau with the No. 87 overall pick over USC star Marshawn Lloyd, whom some experts believed was the best RB in the class.

Given the state of the Cowboys' running back room and that Lloyd was selected with the very next pick by the Packers, it's going to be interesting (and stressful) to compare and contrast Liufau and Lloyd's careers.

This all means that Deuce Vaughn is the last running back drafted by the Cowboys. The excitement following the pick was palpable. Vaughn starred at Kansas State and his electric highlights as an undersized RB dominating giants made him an instant fan favorite.

There's also the fact that Vaughn reunited with his father, Chris Vaughn, who works in the Cowboys' scouting department. The reaction from Vaughn's father on draft night made for one of the most wholesome moments in recent draft history.

Unfortunately, the Vaughn experiment has not panned out and it could be on the verge of ending altogether following a recent update from spring practices.

Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn switching to wide receiver for the 2024 season

While Vaughn is still taking reps at running back, he's getting work at wide receiver, specifically the slot position. Vaughn revealed after practice that offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer brought up the idea of him playing out of the slot after last season.

In turn, Vaughn has been studying former Cowboys slot receiver Cole Beasley, who played seven seasons in Dallas and was one of Tony Romo and Dak Prescott's favorite security blankets. The team stressed that Vaughn's new role is about adding to his value more so than giving up on him as a running back.

While it's true that Vaughn played some slot receiver in college and was very effective in that role, it's pretty easy to see the forrest for the trees here. The Cowboys might not think Vaughn has what it takes to succeed as an NFL running back.

Vaughn's small stature loomed large in his rookie season as he averaged 1.7 yards per carry. Furthermore, his 40.9 rushing grade was third-worst among 130 running backs and his 1.52 yards after contact per attempt ranked 124th, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

At 5-6 and less than 180 pounds with limited athleticism as far as explosiveness and breakaway speed, the odds are stacked against Vaughn. He doesn't have the skillset of a Darren Sproles, who carved out an excellent career as a 5-foot-6 running back.

Maybe the WR experiment works out. However, Vaughn will likely be used as a gadget weapon more than anything and the Cowboys already have KaVontae Turpin for that role. Turpin excelled in the slot last season and could be in for more playing time in 2024.

Cowboys fans are pulling for Vaughn to defy the odds, but this position change gives the former Wildcat long odds to still be with the team in 2025. That's if he manages to stick around for the upcoming season.

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