Deuce Vaughn

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Yards	TD	YPC
Career		14	110	—	2.8
2025		3	64	0	3.8
2024		7	70	0	4.1
2023		7

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Performance versus salary tier earns Deuce Vaughn a C- Contract Value Index, with cap structure shaping the verdict. The rookie deal carries a $1.075M AAV on a one-year pact—a trivial outlay that matches the depth-piece role Denver has assigned him—but the D+ performance grade and 2025 season output of 9 receiving yards across 3 games reveal a third-year back who hasn't yet made a convincing case for consistent offensive snaps. At the positional market level, a sixth-round pick from 2023 on a practice squad futures contract occupies the replacement-tier zone; the money is negligible, which means the CVI verdict hinges entirely on whether the production trajectory justifies the organizational investment. Vaughn at age 24 has already logged three seasons without establishing himself as a core contributor, and media framing confirms Denver views him as insurance depth rather than a building block—a read reinforced by the Broncos' recent multi-position signings and the coaching regime adjustment. The one-year term provides zero long-term cap burden, but it also signals no confidence in his role expansion; the Broncos' 14-3 championship-window roster has little patience for developmental reps at running back, and with sentiment trending downward over the past month, there's no narrative momentum suggesting that calculus will shift before September.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the C band — a quick read on where Deuce's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

The D+ performance grade on Deuce Vaughn reflects how his statistical baseline holds against the RB field. The 2025 season yielded just 9 receiving yards across 3 games—a thin production line that offers little evidence of immediate utility in Denver's backfield equation. His undersized frame and limited snap-share opportunities compound the issue, leaving him without a statistical foundation to build a case for expanded role usage. As a third-year player still operating on his rookie scale contract, Vaughn has not yet demonstrated the durability or output needed to compete for meaningful carries on a 14-3 AFC West-leading roster. The mediaFraming makes clear that Denver views him as depth insurance rather than a developmental prospect with near-term upside; the practice squad re-signing coupled with the team's active additions at running back—including McLaughlin—signals organizational skepticism about his fit in the scheme or his ability to separate from other depth options. On a championship-caliber team with high roster standards, a sixth-round pick with minimal 2025 production does not move the needle, and absent a dramatic leap in training camp performance, Vaughn's path to meaningful snaps remains murky heading into the 2026 season.

How Deuce Compares at the Position

Deuce Vaughn ranks 129th of 175 graded running backs by performance. That slots Deuce between Jaret Patterson (D+) just ahead and Braelon Allen (D+) just behind.

Fan Sentiment

Deuce Vaughn's arrival in Denver has landed with barely a whisper, and the D sentiment grade reflects exactly that — a signing that generated mild curiosity at best and indifference at worst. Media framing has been consistent and clear-eyed: this is a low-risk flyer on an undersized back with limited upside potential, with coverage centered almost entirely on the practice squad designation and what that signals about organizational expectations. That framing aligns with his on-field performance grade of F, which tells you the production hasn't given anyone a compelling reason to push back against the skeptical narrative. The 2025 season yielded just 9 receiving yards across 3 games — thin counting stats that do little to build a case for a larger role. Denver's recent offseason activity only reinforces the depth-chart skepticism, as the Broncos have been actively adding players at multiple positions — including signing RB Jaleel McLaughlin — suggesting the backfield picture is far from settled in Vaughn's favor. On a 14-3 team holding the AFC's top seed, the roster bar is high, and a sixth-round pick from 2023 on a practice squad futures deal isn't moving the needle for fans or media. The narrative here is one of organizational housekeeping, not genuine optimism, and with sentiment trending downward over the last 30 days, there's no catalyst in sight to change that read.