3 Cowboys Most Affected by Dallas' Cheap Spending in Free Agency

3. Deuce Vaughn

One person who could actually benefit from Jones skimping on free agents this offseason is running back Deuce Vaughn.

The Kansas State product entered his rookie year with a ton of hype following an impressive preseason, but things quickly turned sour once the regular season began. His struggles over the first five games cleared the way for RB3 Rico Dowdle to surpass Vaughn, as the sixth-round pick then logged DNPs in 10 of the team's last 12 games.

However, Pollard's exit has opened up a massive opportunity. Dallas is showing no signs of wanting to spend on free-agent RBs, with Dowdle's re-signing being the only move here from the team so far.

That leaves the draft, once again, as the main source of a talent influx. As Vaughn's performance showed, though, there's no guarantee a rookie comes in and takes the place by storm. Plus, the Cowboys' much more pressing roster needs could mean the front office passes up on the premier RB prospects, which would make things easier for Vaughn in a potential competition.

After fully settling in as a pro, Vaughn has the chance to emerge as a legit contributor for Dallas in 2024.

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