It’s a story many fans won’t be thrilled to hear, but the harsh reality is Deuce Vaughn could be on the verge of not making the Dallas Cowboys’ 53-man roster.
Why would that disappoint so many NFL fans? Simple. Everyone loves a true underdog, and Deuce Vaughn embodies that in every sense…. quite literally.
Standing at just 5-foot-6, 176 pounds, Vaughn is one of the shortest players ever to reach the NFL. And in a position group known for size, strength, and durability, it’s a glaring difference.
Running backs today are often now built to withstand the NFL’s physical demands.
OK, maybe Derrick Henry at 6-3 and 245 is an outlier. But look again: The standard bearer at the position is now Saquon Barkley, who at 6-0 and 235 still plays the game with speed and elusiveness.
He is a prime example of the modern prototype.
Vaughn’s journey, however, has always been about beating the odds. His draft moment in 2023 captured the hearts of fans everywhere when he received the call from his father, a Cowboys scout, telling him he’d been selected by Dallas.
It was a moment that transcended football and reminded everyone why we love this game.
But now, as the 2025 season approaches, the reality is setting in: Vaughn’s spot on the roster is far from guaranteed.
The Cowboys added serious depth to their running back room this offseason. Free-agent signings Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders bolster the top of the depth chart, while the team also invested draft picks in Texas Longhorn Jaydon Blue and Clemson’s Phil Mafah during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Typically, teams carry four running backs on the 53-man roster, occasionally five, but that’s rare. The odds of a fifth back sticking are even slimmer when you consider that Hunter Luepke fills a fullback/running back hybrid role, and KaVontae Turpin sometimes lines up in the backfield as a gadget player out of the slot.
And both of them are making this 53-man roster.
That means a hard decision is looming. Out of Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah, and Deuce Vaughn — someone won’t make the cut.
Most expect the final roster battle to come down to Deuce Vaughn vs. rookie Phil Mafah. And right now, Mafah looks to have the upper hand. He’s younger, bigger, and viewed as a more traditional long-term prospect.
Meanwhile, Vaughn, despite two years on the roster, has struggled to carve out a consistent role, totaling just 110 yards across his first two seasons.
If Vaughn doesn’t survive final cuts, his NFL journey isn’t necessarily over. Another team in need of depth could take a chance on him. Alternatively, the Cowboys could look to bring him back on the practice squad, keeping the fan-favorite underdog around in some capacity.
Either way, the reality is clear: Deuce Vaughn’s fight for a roster spot is very real — and it’s one Cowboys fans are watching closely.
