The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed American defensive lineman James Vaughters to a one-year contract. He was recently released by the Calgary Stampeders ahead of an offseason roster bonus.
The 31-year-old made 32 defensive tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles over 18 regular-season games this past season as a full-time starter at defensive end. He was much more productive in 2023 as he made 15 defensive tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles over just six games before suffering a season-ending injury to his arm.
The native of Chicago, Ill. played 27 NFL regular-season games with the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons from 2019 to 2021, recording 33 total tackles, two tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. He also attended training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 but didn't make the club's final roster.
https://3downnation.com/2025/01/31/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-former-stampeders-dl-james-vaughters/
Personally, I love this signing and Willie will be happy if he can play anything close to his 2023 level.
Good signing! There are some strong dts avail in free agency but de position is a real mixed bag.
Wow, this is pretty exciting!
Link to CFL.ca article (https://www.cfl.ca/2025/01/31/bombers-sign-james-vaughters-to-one-year-deal/)
A great addition to the DL.
Blue Bombers agree to terms with defensive end James Vaughters
WINNIPEG, MB., January 31, 2025 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the Club has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with veteran American defensive end James Vaughters.
Vaughters (6-1, 256; Stanford; born: June 27, 1993, in Chicago, IL) joins the Blue Bombers after spending the last two years with the Calgary Stampeders. He was released by Calgary on January 27, 2025.
Vaughters appeared in all 18 games with the Stamps in 2024, registering 32 tackles and five sacks – tied for second on the team – while adding two forced fumbles. He had five sacks in six games in 2023 before suffering a season-ending arm injury.
Vaughters originally joined the Stampeders in 2017 and in his two stints with the team – 2017-18; 2023-24 – he appeared in 57 games, accumulating 97 tackles, 21 sacks and three forced fumbles.
After his first run with Calgary, Vaughters signed in the National Football League with the Chicago Bears. He appeared in 17 games over two seasons with the Bears through 2020 and then suited up for 10 more with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021.
Vaughters played four seasons at Stanford (2011-14) as a linebacker, appearing in 54 games, 18 of them starts.
Wonder what the price was? Sounds awesome.
This signing got me like:
(https://gifsec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/happy-friday-gif-1.gif)
He could be a difference maker. It also suggests why one or both of Haba or Garbutt have not been extended. Yet anyway. It could force their hand to a lower price point to even be back for TC. We still need depth.
Quote from: Blue In BC on January 31, 2025, 04:49:17 PMHe could be a difference maker. It also suggests why one or both of Haba or Garbutt have not been extended. Yet anyway. It could force their hand to a lower price point to even be back for TC. We still need depth.
I assume both will test free agency but it'd be nice to try and keep at least one of them if possible.
FWIW right now, I think Vaughters and Jefferson are going to be impactful book ends.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on January 31, 2025, 04:52:46 PMI assume both will test free agency but it'd be nice to try and keep at least one of them if possible.
FWIW right now, I think Vaughters and Jefferson are going to be impactful book ends.
I like this signing too, but I feel we still need more beef at DT.
Quote from: VictorRomano on January 31, 2025, 04:55:22 PMI like this signing too, but I feel we still need more beef at DT.
Cam Lawson will be back which should be a pretty good no effort update for us assuming he bounces back from the injury. Totally agree it would be nice to have another piece though although in general we've been more successful at finding those guys on rookie deals in camp than defensive ends.
Quote from: VictorRomano on January 31, 2025, 04:55:22 PMI like this signing too, but I feel we still need more beef at DT.
(Bolded, potential FA)
90 FOX, Miles DL A 6'1 300 28 Wake Forest
9 GARBUTT, TyJuan DL A 6'2 255 25 Virginia Tech
45 HABA, Celestin DL A 6'1 250 25 Texas A&M Commerce5 JEFFERSON, Willie DL A 6'7 248 34 Stephen F. Austin State
99 KORNELSON, Collin DL N 6'3 295 24 Manitoba
99 LAWSON, Cameron DL N 6'3 285 26 Queen's
43 OGBEVOEN, Lucky DL G 6'2 233 24 Tirol Raiders (ELF)
92 SAMSON, Kyle DL N 6'3 290 24 UBC
96 SCHMEKEL, Tanner DL N 6'1 300 25 Regina
95 THOMAS, Jake DL N 6'1 280 34 Acadia
91 WOODS, Jamal DL A 6'2 290 25 Illinois
48 person WRIGHT, Brandon DL A 6'2 250 24 Michigan State
94 ADAMS, Devin DT A 6'2 285 26 Peru State College
Kornellson, Samson, Schmekel, Thomas, Woods and Adams are pretty beefy, even if Fox doesn't come back.
Quote from: blue_gold_84 on January 31, 2025, 04:52:46 PMI assume both will test free agency but it'd be nice to try and keep at least one of them if possible.
FWIW right now, I think Vaughters and Jefferson are going to be impactful book ends.
Lopsided bookends, Vaughters is 6'-1" 265 lbs, more of a strong inside guy like Micah Johnson than a loop outside guy like Willy.
Well we all talked about how Willie had no one to take attention off him without a Jeffcoat complement, so here's your answer. I'm excited about this signing.
Vaughters-Lawson-Ceresna-Jefferson.
Make it happen, Kyle.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on January 31, 2025, 05:34:18 PMLopsided bookends, Vaughters is 6'-1" 265 lbs, more of a strong inside guy like Micah Johnson than a loop outside guy like Willy.
Sure. That doesn't change my opinion that I think they'll make effective bookends together, though.
Well I am glad we addressed probably the 2nd. weakest part the team last season. I also like the signing of Jones. The guy can make plays, and is pretty good on teams. Now, lets address the our return game because it wasn't good last season. Grant isn't coming back and Lucky has lost a step.
DECENT!!!! Excellent signing and much needed piece to our DL puzzle!! Bravo, braaaavo!!!
At least we all know the name Vaughters. However, I don't recall him being a major powerhouse in CGY. Of course, that may have been due to the fact he was in CGY!
So was he cut from CGY because he was great and too $$ and we signed him for monga moolah? Or was it because he stunk and CGY needs to improve and Mafia think they found another overlooked gem? That's really the only 2 options here. Neither is bad... well except for using up SMS.
Here's hoping he's as good as most posters here seem to think!
I'm also starting to get worried that basically every incoming contract is only for 1 year...
Quote from: TecnoGenius on February 01, 2025, 05:55:48 AMAt least we all know the name Vaughters. However, I don't recall him being a major powerhouse in CGY. Of course, that may have been due to the fact he was in CGY!
So was he cut from CGY because he was great and too $$ and we signed him for monga moolah? Or was it because he stunk and CGY needs to improve and Mafia think they found another overlooked gem? That's really the only 2 options here. Neither is bad... well except for using up SMS.
Here's hoping he's as good as most posters here seem to think!
I'm also starting to get worried that basically every incoming contract is only for 1 year...
Vaughters is getting up there, he might be good for a year or two in rotation but he's fairly near his end. Picking up old Stamps players based on their past performance is a Rider-like move. I hope the high level of recruitment is not slipping and they start relying on crutches to tide them over.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 01, 2025, 03:24:35 PMVaughters is getting up there, he might be good for a year or two in rotation but he's fairly near his end. Picking up old Stamps players based on their past performance is a Rider-like move. I hope the high level of recruitment is not slipping and they start relying on crutches to tide them over.
Meh, we're not getting into bidding wars on the open market, we're picking up other teams' salary cap casualties.
Quote from: Jesse on February 01, 2025, 07:14:02 PMMeh, we're not getting into bidding wars on the open market, we're picking up other teams' salary cap casualties
agree, and when you look at the free agent de's Vaughters and Robbie Smith are the only ones that stand out... after that its a big dropoff.
Walters is doing a great job locking up some of these casualties before free agency drives up prices. ( and addressing needs so to better focus on others who can help us)
Quote from: Pete on February 01, 2025, 07:52:26 PMagree, and when you look at the free agent de's Vaughters and Robbie Smith are the only ones that stand out... after that its a big dropoff.
Walters is doing a great job locking up some of these casualties before free agency drives up prices. ( and addressing needs so to better focus on others who can help us)
Robbie Smith would be a good one but he's a Natl. so he might cost more than $200k.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on February 01, 2025, 03:24:35 PMVaughters is getting up there, he might be good for a year or two in rotation but he's fairly near his end. Picking up old Stamps players based on their past performance is a Rider-like move. I hope the high level of recruitment is not slipping and they start relying on crutches to tide them over.
Ouch. LOL!
Anyone have any info on Vaughters injury-wise? Is he a Fatboi (always healthy) or a Jeffcoat? No sense shedding Jeffcoat just to bring in another Jeffcoat!
Short highlight video.
Looks speedy.
https://youtube.com/shorts/Qg8qnaHkD9k?si=j84CIbnWvVUp9w47
Year ago in Calgary, Good interview... seems like a very solid person.
https://youtu.be/eGLtXCKO5vM?si=iBr44phyqVRdhg3G
I am going to speculate that this is a real win for the team.
Vaughters: "This was a no brainer to me, to be honest."
✍️Ed Tait
https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/01/31/vaughters-this-was-a-no-brainer-to-me-to-be-honest/ (https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/01/31/vaughters-this-was-a-no-brainer-to-me-to-be-honest/)
For what its worth, 2024 stats
Willie Jefferson 25 tackles, 6 sacks
James Vaughters 32 tackles, 5 sacks
He only played 6 games in 2023, 15 tackles and 5 sacks....he ain't no stiff folks!!!
I think production will go up for both of them as teams can't double both of them at the same time!
Quote from: dd on February 02, 2025, 03:08:00 AMFor what its worth, 2024 stats
Willie Jefferson 25 tackles, 6 sacks
James Vaughters 32 tackles, 5 sacks
He only played 6 games in 2023, 15 tackles and 5 sacks....he ain't no stiff folks!!!
I think production will go up for both of them as teams can't double both of them at the same time!
He apparently didn't get any sacks in his first 5 games (as he came back from a season ending injury jury the year before), and then got all 5 sacks in 13 games.
Could be a guy that could give us way more production than he was able to put together for Calgary.
Quote from: Jesse on February 02, 2025, 03:42:36 AMCould be a guy that could give us way more production than he was able to put together for Calgary.
That's always the hope. It's always best to find the unsung heroes so we can get them cheap(er), then have them blossom whilst here. (Then they leave... sigh, but at least we usually get a few years out of them first!)