By Ross Jackson
New Orleans Saints rookie defensive tackle Vernon Broughton may have only had one season as a starter with the Texas Longhorns, but he made enough of a statement to show his new team that he could be a valuable asset in executing their changing defensive scheme.
Brought, one of two third-round draft selections by the Saints this year, is a 6-foot-5, 311-pound trench player with a knack for stopping the run. He’s exactly the type of player that New Orleans was set to pursue in the 2025 NFL Draft after finishing as the league’s No. 31 team in run defense last year.
Broughton is a space-eater on the inside with a more than 83-inch wingspan and long (34 ⅞-inches) arms.
He’s a tough player to move off of his spot because of his reach and ability to win at the point of attack. That alone will make him a player that New Orleans looks to get on the field early in his playing career to help beef up the team’s run defense. He has also flashed quite a bit over the years with his pass rusher ability, thanks to the unique quickness he possesses at his size.
I’m late getting to his tape but Vernon Broughton is easily a day 2 pick. Quick, explosive, skilled hands, lethal bull rush/long-arm pic.twitter.com/m22yvvSQ2W
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) March 23, 2025
He has played a long list of defensive line techniques, making him a versatile piece along the unit, but is likely to hold a consistent role as a 2 or 3-technique player with some nose tackle flexibility. He sets up to pair nicely with 2023 first-round selection Bryan Bresee on the defensive interior.
Saints’ defensive line coach Bo Davis may have only overlapped in Austin with Broughton while the defensive tackle was a rotational piece for the Longhorns, but Broughton clearly made an impression on him.
#Saints Defensive Line coach Bo Davis tells @TexasFootball DT Vernon Broughton he’s coming to New Orleans 💪#SaintsDraft | @CoxComm pic.twitter.com/3vRG4V2DdM
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 26, 2025
“Yeah, (defensive) tackle, probably start inside, but have the flexibility,” head coach Kellen Moore said after day two of the draft. “Again, he can work his way out as you go. And obviously Bo (Davis) having great experience with him, he’s got the ability to line up in the number of spots, which was a big positive for us.”
Expect Broughton to be brought in to become a potential starter on the inside but to move around for certain matchups and looks. He should see, especially with a third-round tag on him, solid playing time in rotation on the defensive line early.
