5 Cowboys Fighting For Their Jobs After Free Agency

2. RB Deuce Vaughn

After an impressive 2023 training camp, the Cowboys added diminutive running back Deuce Vaughn to the initial 53-man roster. But while he showed promise during the exhibition schedule, the former Kansas State rusher couldn't put things together once the regular season came around.

Vaughn played in each of the Cowboys' first five games but couldn't generate any sort of production, turning 20 carries into just 40 rushing yards while hauling in five targets for another 19 yards. That was all McCarthy needed to see to lose faith in the 5-foot-6 RB as Vaughn was held out in 10 of Dallas' final 12 games before ending the year on the injured reserve with an ankle injury.

But even after Tony Pollard left the Lone Star State via free agency, Vaughn's job is hardly safe. Rico Dowdle is currently the RB1 on the depth chart after playing well behind Pollard last year. Considering how the Cowboys re-signed Dowdle in the offseason, it's clear that they plan to have him on the 53-man roster again.

It also isn't guaranteed that Vaughn will even be the RB2 come the fall. The Cowboys could potentially add another tailback through next month's draft and might even consider bringing in veteran bodies for training camp tryouts.

Unless Vaughn makes a ton of improvements this summer, his future in Dallas is up in the air.