The Buccaneers found their running back in the draft in the form of Ke’Shawn Vaughn in the third round. Here is how Vaughn fits on the team.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were off to a hot start in the 2020 NFL Draft with two infallible selections. While everyone knew that running back was going to be a targeted position by the Bucs, the drafting of Ke’Shawn Vaughn came as a surprise in the third round.
Vaughn had a very impressive college career, especially considering that he played for the often-overlooked Vanderbilt.
The biggest surprise was not taking Vaughn, but taking him in the third round. Most projections indicated that the former Vandy running back would be available in one of the later rounds.
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Despite the apparent reach, the Buccaneers had already addressed their two most significant positions of need, and every other pick would likely go towards depth for the remainder of the draft.
It should also be considered that if Bruce Arians and Jason Licht seemingly “reached” for this pick, they must love the idea of adding this prospect to their already dominant offense.
So what does Vaughn bring to the Buccaneers? While it is impossible to get into the head of an NFL coach or GM, it appears as though the Bucs envision their new running back playing the James White role that Tom Brady relied upon in New England.
Vaughn showed the potential to sustain a high volume of receiving targets at the NFL level while at Vandy and is also a more dangerous run threat than a player like White.
As a player who says that he models his game after Alvin Kamara, Vaughn may not have the same route tree as the latter, but these players do have one massive thing in common: efficiency.
RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn has said before he models his game after Saints' RB Alvin Kamara and can be that guys catching passes out of the backfield. He said he knows Tom Brady will put him and his teammates in great positions.
— Carmen Vitali (@CarmieV) April 25, 2020
Kamara exploded onto the scene in the NFL in 2017 when he took on the backup role in the New Orleans Saints backfield and made the Pro Bowl based on his impressive prowess as a runner and a receiver. Kamara averaged 6.1 yards per rush and 7.5 yards per reception for 1,554 total yards.
Ke’Shawn Vaughn was able to showcase a similar efficiency while at Vanderbilt. Over two years playing in the SEC, Vaughn averaged 6.4 yards per rush and 10.7 yards per reception for 2,712 total yards.
Vaughn’s presence in the passing game was minimal, like most college running backs, but he was able to make big plays with the football in his hands while playing for one of the weaker teams in the SEC. Players who can find success running against SEC teams in college often start with an advantage when transitioning to the NFL.
The Buccaneers have created a lightning and thunder dynamic in the backfield with Ronald Jones and Vaughn. While it remains to be seen what the rookie’s exact role will be, Tampa Bay could utilize these two similarly to Sony Michel and James White in New England.
Tampa Bay surprised people with this pick, but they were able to find a back that can develop into the safety blanket that Tom Brady will need to find success in Tampa Bay.
The Buccaneers found a great addition to their offense in Ke’Shawn Vaughn, and a comparison to Alvin Kamara is not too far a stretch for their new third-round pick.