Buccaneers have to move Ke’Shaen Vaughn into second role
By Rob Leeds
A clear RB2?
We have not always been so high on Ke’Shawn Vaughn. In fact, on draft night, this was one of the bigger disappointments in our eyes. This had nothing to do with Vaughn or his tape, but more came from the position of the pick.
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Vaughn would have been a decent pick in the fourth round. The third round felt a little high. The Buccaneers had done so well to avoid running backs in the first two rounds, so breaking with the smart decision-making to take a running back so high (which we always disagree with) was hard to get behind.
Regardless, we came to grips with Vaughn, and at least it became clear that the Bucs were going to fix the horrible running back room. But then the Buccaneers switched gears quickly. Instead of letting the third-round pick live up to his potential, the Bucs added two veteran running backs before the start of the season, and Vaughn plummeted down the depth chart.
Vaughn was the last running back to make the roster. The Buccaneers were so deliberate in investing in a running back that they drafted so high, yet their prime draft capital went to a player that would rarely see the field.
If McCoy and Fournette had both not struggled or been injured at various points this season, Vaughn could have been one of the worst draft picks for the Buccaneers in recent years due to no fault of his own.
Fortunately for the draft evaluators, Vaughn has received a new chance to prove himself, and he is making a compelling case to go into the playoffs as the second back for the Buccaneers.