Broncos Add Dynamic Former Cowboys RB After Super Bowl Champion’s Comments
The Denver Broncos are already looking to add a new dynamic to their group, and they quickly settled on former Dallas Cowboys sixth-round draft pick (2023) and running back Cristopher “Deuce” Vaughn.
The move comes on the heels of the Broncos’ 20-12 win over the Tennessee Titans.
That could suggest that there is something specific that head coach Sean Payton and the Broncos want to see out of the young playmaker, Vaughn.
Broncos Sign Former Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn
GettyDeuce Vaughn #42 of the Dallas Cowboys participates in warmups before a game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Vaughn, who turns 24 in November, has 110 rushing yards on 40 carries in his career. How Vaughn fits into the Broncos’ plans is unclear, but he was in for a workout last week, so head coach Sean Payton and the front office have been monitoring him.
“The #Broncos are signing running back Deuce Vaughn to their practice squad, sources tell @CBSSports,” CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported on X on September 9. “The former Kansas State All-American and 2023 sixth-round draft pick spent the last two seasons with the Cowboys. Ran for 42 yards in Dallas’ final preseason game.
“During his final two college seasons at Kansas State, Vaughn ran for 2,912 yards and accounted for 34 total touchdowns.”
“He’s a hard worker. There could be a connection there,” Vaughn’s agent, Jovan Barnes, said, per The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson on September 9. “I was excited when they expressed their interest and now it’s up to Deuce to do what he does.
“He’s a great player and a great young man.”
What Vaughn does with the Broncos, and specifically under Payton, is certainly something to monitor.
Deuce Vaughn Draws Comparison to Super Bowl Champion After Endorsement
GettyDarren Sproles #43 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles during their NFC Wild Card Playoffs.
The Broncos have experience with smaller players, and Vaughn is the shortest active player in the league. Again, though, that puts him right in Payton’s wheelhouse as the former New Orleans Saints head coach remakes his vision in Denver.
“The 5-6 Vaughn signs up with Sean Payton, who got great production from 5-6 Darren Sproles from 2011-13 w/Saints,” 9News’ Mike Klis posted on X while confirming the signing.
Payton said if he could add one of his former players to the 2025 Broncos, it would be Sproles, who agrees with the comp and has praised and pushed for Vaughn to receive more playing time.
Sproles won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017.
He logged over 420 touches for 3,048 yards and 21 touchdowns under Payton. He played a crucial part in what Payton calls the “joker” in his offense, which requires a versatile skill set and has been filled by backs like current backs J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey.
The Broncos could be the best place for Vaughn, whose father is a scout for the Cowboys, to reach his full potential in the NFL, thanks largely to Payton’s expertise with similar players.
Broncos Expected to Call on Backup QB Again
GettyClayton Tune #15 of the Arizona Cardinals and Sam Ehlinger #4 of the Denver Broncos talk after a game.
The Broncos will leave the rest of their roster as is after signing Vaughn, taking a similar approach as they did against the Titans.
“No corresponding move here, source says,” The Denver Post’s Luca Evans reported on X. “#Broncos will promote QB3 Sam Ehlinger to active roster again for Week 2 v. Indianapolis, leaves a spot open on PS.”
Ehlinger can dress on game days but not count toward the 53-player limit.
Perhaps Vaughn can get up to speed with whatever the Broncos want from him and can see the field as soon as this coming week against the Indianapolis Colts.
Celtics fans would riot if they traded for the newest name on the trade block
The Boston Celtics are this summer's prime example of a team trading players it values because of constraints imposed by an unforgiving collective bargaining agreement.
After consecutive campaigns over the second apron, the franchise parted with Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis. They also lost Luke Kornet to the San Antonio Spurs in free agency. When Jonathan Kuminga's restricted free agency gets settled, the Golden State Warriors could quickly sign Al Horford.
However, Boston could now benefit from another team that's working to shed salary. According to Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report, the Philadelphia 76ers are motivated to trade at least one, if not both, Kelly Oubre and Andre Drummond. The reason is to create enough space to re-sign restricted free agent Quentin Grimes while staying under the first apron.
"There has been buzz all summer long about the Sixers looking to potentially move one of, if not both, Andre Drummond and Kelly Oubre," reports Fischer. "If they are able to find a deal for one of those two guys as we get closer to camp, that would open up some more wiggle room for Philadelphia to be able to pay Grimes a little bit more."
If that's true, the Celtics could swoop in and acquire either individual at a low cost.
Should the Celtics trade for Andre Drummond?
Oubre is the better of these two players, certainly in the opinion of this author. However, Boston has plenty of wings. Furthermore, most of them are younger prospects with a chance to prove themselves. With Jayson Tatum rehabbing a torn Achilles and title contention seemingly on pause, they should get that opportunity.
Seeing who can capitalize and carve out their place in the NBA is one of the most productive uses of this season. Players like Baylor Scheierman, Jordan Walsh, and offseason signing Josh Minott all have a chance to prove they're capable of becoming multi-year contributors. Scheierman seems like the safest bet and most entrenched among that trio.
There's also rookie Hugo Gonzalez. The first-round pick is raw. He must adapt to a dramatically different and faster style of play than in the ACB. However, the Celtics were wise to take a home run swing with the 28th overall selection. Now they should afford him opportunities to play through those growing pains.
Adding Oubre to an already crowded mix is a suboptimal way to fill the Celtics' final roster spot. It's an unnecessary avenue to raising the team's tax bill. The depth chart at center makes acquiring Drummond more reasonable.
Behind Neemias Queta, who impressed at EuroBasket, and Luka Garza are Xavier Tillman Sr., Chris Boucher, and Amari Williams. As previously explored, Tillman could deliver a bounce-back season and prove last year was an outlier. However, it also may have been the start of a rapid decline for an undersized big man who has dealt with knee injuries.
Boucher is best when operating at the four in double-big lineups. Still, he allows Joe Mazzulla to deploy small-ball lineups with him at center that could overcome concerns on defense and on the boards with a potent offensive attack.
Williams enters the Association on a two-way deal. His skill set is intriguing. However, the rookie's game is raw. He figures to spend most of his time developing in the G League.
Bringing Drummond into the fold is justifiable. The Celtics could find a role for him despite only being a scoring threat around the basket. The six-foot-11 center is coming off a campaign where he averaged 7.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.0 blocks. That production came in 18.8 minutes of playing time across 40 appearances with the 76ers.
The former UConn Huskies star is still a capable contributor at 32 years old. However, parting with draft capital, no matter how heavily protected that second-round pick is, seems like a poor use of that asset.
Even if Drummond were a free agent, Boston is probably better off maximizing luxury tax savings, or at least searching for a younger player more likely to help beyond this season.
If Drummond's on the trade block, it won't take much for the Celtics to acquire him. Still, if they're going to put more resources into their 2025-26 roster, there are better uses of them than going in this direction.
