Let's be real for a second. The NFL draft is basically a high-stakes lottery where everyone thinks they have the winning numbers until the actual games start. When the New Orleans Saints called out Vernon Broughton’s name with the 71st overall pick in the 2025 draft, a lot of people outside of Austin, Texas, were scratching their heads. Was he a reach? Was he the next hidden gem?
The truth is, Broughton is one of those classic "bet on the traits" prospects. He spent years in the shadows at Texas, playing behind absolute monsters like Byron Murphy II and T'Vondre Sweat. It’s hard to get your name in the headlines when you’re rotationally spelling guys who are literal first-round locks. But when 2024 rolled around, Broughton finally got his shot to lead that defensive front, and he didn’t just show up—he dominated the moments that mattered.
The Vernon Broughton NFL Draft Journey: More Than Just a Backup
If you just look at his career box scores from 2020 to 2023, you might wonder why an NFL team would burn a third-round pick on him. He had roughly 31 tackles across three seasons. Not exactly eye-popping. But the Vernon Broughton NFL draft hype wasn't built on volume; it was built on a very specific, very rare physical profile.
At 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds, Broughton doesn't move like a typical interior lineman. He’s got these absurd 35-inch arms—that’s 94th percentile, for those keeping track—and a wingspan that makes life miserable for even the best offensive guards. When he finally became a full-time starter in 2024, he racked up 39 tackles and 4.0 sacks.
Honestly, it was the Texas A&M game that probably sealed his draft stock. Two sacks and a game-ending fumble recovery in a rivalry game? That’s how you get scouts to start banging the table for you.
What the Saints Saw in the Tape
The Saints have a type. They love long, versatile defensive linemen who can kick inside or play the 5-tech in certain fronts. Broughton fits that mold perfectly. Most scouts saw him as a "penetrating 3-technique," which is basically a fancy way of saying he’s the guy tasked with blowing up the pocket from the inside before the quarterback can even finish his drop.
- The First Step: He has a twitchy get-off. It’s not just fast for a big guy; it’s fast for any guy.
- The Reach: With those 35-inch arms, he can engage a blocker before they even touch his chest. In the NFL, whoever wins the "hand fight" usually wins the rep.
- The Engine: You’ll hear coaches talk about "high motor." Broughton actually has it. He doesn't quit on plays, often chasing down ball carriers from the backside—something you don't always see from 300-pounders.
Dealing with the "Developmental" Label
Every draft pick has a "but." For Broughton, the "but" was his consistency in the run game. Because he spent so much time as a rotational player, he didn't always have the reps to master the art of taking on double teams. There were times at Texas where a heavy double team would wash him out of the play.
He’s a north-south player. He wants to go forward. Asking him to move laterally to shut down a zone-run scheme was, at times, a work in progress.
There was also a bit of a divide among analysts. Some saw an "old-school" two-gapper who could anchor a defense, while others saw a "new-age" pass rusher who was still learning how to use his hands. The Saints clearly leaned toward the latter, believing that his athletic ceiling was worth the 71st pick.
The Rookie Reality Check
Life in the NFL comes at you fast. Broughton made his debut in Week 2 of the 2025 season against the San Francisco 49ers. He looked the part, too, recording three tackles and showing some of that signature burst.
Then, disaster struck.
A season-ending hip injury landed him on injured reserve just days later. It’s a brutal blow for a third-round pick who needs those live-fire reps to transition from "talented prospect" to "reliable starter." Instead of grinding on the field, he’s spent the last several months in the training room.
What Happens Next for Broughton?
Heading into 2026, the narrative around Broughton has shifted from "draft sleeper" to "recovery story." The physical tools haven't gone anywhere. He’s still 6-foot-5 with those massive arms. But the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" league.
For the Saints, the investment remains high. They didn't draft him for just one year; they drafted him because they think he can be the anchor of that interior line for the next decade. The key will be how that hip holds up and whether he can regain that explosive first step that made him a draft darling in the first place.
If you're a fan or a collector, keep an eye on his training camp reports. The Saints' defensive scheme relies heavily on guys like him winning one-on-one matchups. If he’s healthy, he’s a problem for every interior lineman in the NFC South.
To really understand where Broughton is headed, you have to look at his 2024 Texas tape. Watch the way he uses his length to keep blockers at bay. That isn't something you can coach; you're either born with that frame or you aren't.
Actionable Insights for Following the 2026 Season:
- Monitor the Saints' PUP list: Seeing if Broughton starts training camp on the "Physically Unable to Perform" list will be the first big indicator of his recovery.
- Watch the preseason snap counts: If the Saints are playing him deep into the fourth quarter of preseason games, they’re trying to make up for those lost rookie-year reps.
- Analyze his pad level: The biggest jump for interior linemen is staying low against NFL-level double teams. If Broughton is getting upright, he’s going to struggle regardless of his arm length.