3DownNation's Justin Dunk believes the Saskatchewan Roughriders newest defensive lineman fits well with the team.
"James Vaughters makes a lot of sense because he and Corey Mace have a relationship going back to Calgary," Dunk explained on The SportsCage.
"He knows Mace's system; Mace knows him as a player. Vaughters had, I thought, an under-the-radar six sacks last season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He's a veteran guy that you can bring in there and go, 'We know what we have.'"
The 32-year-old agreed to terms with the Riders during the CFL communication window and officially signed with Saskatchewan on Tuesday, February 10.
Initially, Vaughters went unselected in the 2015 NFL Draft and spent time with the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots that year. He had a stint on the Calgary Stampeders practice roster, then with the San Diego Chargers in 2016.
Vaughters came back to the CFL and played with the Stamps from 2017 to 2018. Mace was his defensive line coach in 2018 when Calgary won the Grey Cup against the Ottawa Redblacks 27-16. After winning that CFL championship, the Chicago native returned to the NFL, playing for the Bears and then the Atlanta Falcons. His last NFL team was the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022 and then he returned to the CFL.
Overall, Vaughters earned $3.28 million USD while playing in the NFL.
When Vaughters came to Canada after his second stint in the NFL, he returned to the Stampeders from 2023 to 2024. Calgary released him on January 27, 2025 and his next team was the Bombers. Through 17 regular season games with Winnipeg last year, the six-foot-two, 259-pound defensive lineman registered 36 defensive tackles, six sacks and recovered one fumble for a touchdown.
Dunk credited Roughriders' general manager Jeremy O'Day, who entered the offseason with a league-high 44 pending free agents, and the team's efforts in re-signing more than half that list.
Looking ahead, Dunk feels Saskatchewan needs at least one young pass rusher to step up in 2026.
"Corey Mace likes to dress so many defensive linemen, those are the guys that the Riders are hoping can be the next one," Dunk explained.
"I would look at guys like Chico Bennett Jr. or Aaron Patrick would probably be the top two guys among them. You're looking for that next dude that can really fit your system and understand what you're being asked to do under Joshua Bell, the defensive coordinator."
