Once upon a time, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted a running back to come in and be the right-hand man for quarterback Tom Brady. Back on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft, Tampa Bay selected running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn out of Vanderbilt.
Fast forward to present day, just five years later, and it could be over for the former Bucs draft pick. The San Francisco 49ers have released Vaughn as part of their quest to trim the roster down to 53, but this cut is especially brutal.
Vaughn spent last season with the 49ers as mainly a practice squad member, but he spent almost all summer long without a job after his contract was up in San Francisco. It wasn't until just a couple of weeks ago that Vaughn re-signed with the 49ers on August 9.
Ke'Shawn Vaughn is mostly forgotten by Bucs fans and now might be done in the NFL
To spend all summer without a new team and finally return to San Francisco in early August is not necessarily a good sign for most veterans, although it does work out for some of the more notable names. As for Vaughn, he was cut just two weeks after signing.
This time, it very well could be the end. Vaughn is now over the all-important age of 27, having turned 28 years old back in May. And, as we know, that's a death sentence for the majority of NFL running backs. Unless your name is Derrick Henry, in recent years, your best days are behind you.
Did Vaughn even have what would qualify as his "best" days, though?
In five years, he has rushed for a grand total of ... wait for it ... 388 yards.
The most he had tallied in a season was 180 with the Bucs back in 2021. He never received more than 36 carries in a season and only received two last year with the 49ers after appearing in three games.
For a player who had so many fantasy football enthusiasts excited a few years back, to try and get the running back in a Brady offense, Vaughn fell off in a hurry. It truly might be the end, now.