Throughout his tenure as head coach of both the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos, Sean Payton has consistently prioritized giving undrafted free agents a legitimate opportunity to make the roster.
Although no UDFAs have broken through for the Broncos so far, that hasn’t deterred Payton’s commitment to the approach.
Given Denver’s lack of depth at wide receiver, the team should consider bringing in another undrafted talent—UFL standout and Arlington Renegades wide receiver Tyler Vaughns.
Vaughns turned heads with a spectacular one-handed, leaping touchdown catch against the D.C. Defenders on May 18, adding to a strong season in which he’s recorded 30 catches for 344 yards over five games.
“During Sunday’s UFL game with the Arlington Renegades, the former USC Trojan made a tremendous catch that had many questioning why he isn’t getting more serious consideration from NFL teams,” wrote Gabriel S. Esparza of Reign of Troy on May 19.
That wasn’t Vaughns’ only big performance this year—he also posted season highs of nine receptions, 127 yards, and a touchdown against the Michigan Panthers on May 10.
Vaughns Spent Time on 2 NFL Practice Squads
Tyler Vaughns, a former 5-star recruit from Bishop Amat High School in California, had a productive college career at USC, where he played four seasons and tallied 222 catches for 2,801 yards and 20 touchdowns. His standout year came in 2019 as a junior, when he posted career highs with 74 receptions, 912 yards, and 6 touchdowns.
However, his senior season in 2020 was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as USC played only six games. Vaughns’ production dipped to 33 catches for 406 yards and 3 touchdowns, though he still earned All-Pac-12 honors for his performance.
His Pro Day was disappointing, as he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.69 seconds, managed a 31.5-inch vertical leap, and completed just seven reps of the 225-pound bench press. At 6-foot-2 and 186 pounds, his measurables raised concerns about his NFL potential.
USC WR Tyler Vaughns (@tswag03) Highlights
Vaughns is so smooth on the field. Watching him run routes is a thing of beauty. The only thing better are his hands #FightOn ✌️
Full Video: https://t.co/zPE36Wz8so pic.twitter.com/rxEV6CuYsS
— JustBombsProductions (@JBP_Official) May 24, 2020
Despite this, NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein considered Vaughns a possible seventh-round pick or priority undrafted free agent. Zierlein described him as a consistent player with strong ball skills and aerial body control, but noted the need for better route running and strength to stick in the league.
Vaughns went undrafted in 2021 and spent time on the practice squads of the Colts and Steelers before joining the XFL’s Arlington Renegades in 2023, where he helped the team win a championship in his debut season.
Broncos Don’t Have Great Answers at Wide Receiver
The Broncos ended a five-year streak without a 1,000-yard wide receiver in 2024, thanks to veteran Courtland Sutton, who recorded 81 catches for 1,081 yards and eight touchdowns.
Looking ahead to 2025, the team’s wide receiver depth remains thin. They selected Illinois wideout Pat Bryant in the third round (No. 74 overall) of the draft and return potential WR2 candidates in DeVaughn Vele and Marvin Mims. However, there’s still an opportunity for someone like Vaughns to make the roster and contribute.
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