Vernon Broughton

Saints selected Texas DT Vernon Broughton with the No. 71 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Broughton bided his time behind Texas defensive tackle stars, Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat, before breaking out as a fifth-year player in 2024. An intriguing size-speed prospect, Broughton (6’5/311) exuberantly pursues passers by keeping blockers at bay with his 35-inch arms. When Broughton loses the initial handfight, it can be difficult for him to disengage and at times he fails to accurately asses his opponent’s lateral movement. Improving discipline and strength sit atop his to-do list, though his size and athleticism allow him to dominate lesser opponents, regardless. Broughton primarily lined up as a defensive tackle but could line up as a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL after producing an elite 13.0 percent pass-rush win rate in 2024. In Texas’ full 2024 season, Broughton totaled 32 quarterback pressures, four sacks, 26 stops, 29 solo tackles and five TFLs.