The Dallas Cowboys didn’t add a running back with any of their first six picks in the 2023 NFL Draft. With their seventh pick, they grabbed a very interesting player.
The Cowboys took Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn, an undersized player who lit the college football world on fire last season. He was picked in the sixth round, 212th overall.
Vaughn was one of the most dynamic players in the sport last season. He had 1,936 yards from scrimmage with 12 touchdowns. The season before, he had 1,872 yards and 22 touchdowns. He was a big play machine.
His ability is unquestioned. His size is why he was available to the Cowboys in the sixth round. He’s just 5-foot-5, 179 pounds. He’s the shortest player measured at the NFL scouting combine since that information started being tracked in 2003, according to CBS.
It was a fun pick and also a special family moment. Deuce Vaughn is the son of Cowboys scout Chris Vaughn. When the pick was made, Chris Vaughn hugged Cowboys team owner Jerry Jones and team CEO Stephen Jones.
The Cowboys moved on from Ezekiel Elliott this offseason, though a reunion hasn’t been ruled out. They needed some running back depth either way. Vaughn might not be a factor for them, given the challenges his size presents in pass protection and staying on the field as well. But there are worse players to take a shot on than a consensus All-American each of the past two seasons.
Vaughn wasn’t too small to make an impact in the college game. The Cowboys are going to find out if any of that translates to the NFL.
