Texas DT Vernon Broughton selected No. 71 overall by the New Orleans Saints

The Houston product reunites with his former position coach Bo Davis in NoLa.

Defensive tackle Vernon Broughton became the six selection for the Texas Longhorns in the 2025 NFL Draft when he was picked by the New Orleans Saints on Friday in the third round with the No. 71 overall pick.

The selection by the Saints reunites Broughton with his former defensive line coach Bo Davis, hired by new head coach Kellen Moore this year, and gives the Longhorns five defensive tackles picked in the last three NFL Drafts.

Like Alfred Collins and T’Vondre Sweat, Broughton returned to Texas for a fifth season of college football in a decision that paid off handsomely.

“When you think about our run of defensive tackles, Vernon is a guy who had the opportunity to play behind and learn from some real pros. That helped him a lot, and he embraced it by being patient and seizing the moment when his opportunity came,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said.

“He has all the measurables and is a really big man who is very explosive and athletic. He can get on an edge, he can rush the passer, and he can play all three downs. He’s a very mature football player who was a guy that had been with us for a number of years, got better every year, was always productive, but really had an outstanding last year when he decided to come back for his senior year. He’s primed and ready to have an instant impact with the Saints.”

A consensus four-star prospect from Houston Cy Ridge in the 2020 recruiting class, Broughton developed into a reliable interior presence during his time on the Forty Acres.

Spending a majority of his career as a reserve or behind former stars Byron Murphy and T’Vondre Sweat, Broughton had his first opportunity as an everyday player this past season and did not disappoint.

Broughton stuffed the stat sheet in a manner that he previously hadn’t achieved, notching 39 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries while starting 15 games. Each of those stats tied or set Broughton’s career highs.

Although Broughton always possessed the physical tools to excel at the college level, his limited playing time left many fans scratching their heads, even with the depth of talent around him. Having only started playing football as a high school sophomore, his choice to return for his fifth season offered a valuable opportunity to continue developing and showcase his potential as an NFL prospect.

During the season, Broughton established himself as an interior presence with the physical abilities to dominate now, but enough raw talent to suggest he still possesses ample room to develop. Broughton’s first step in the passing game is superb and he routinely blows past lineman.

He’s shown a formidable range of pass-rush techniques that vary across speed, power, and finesse, as evidenced by his sack number this past year. Broughton’s current skill set paired with his physical stature creates immense value now and future potential.

Broughton also possesses the intangible skills that NFL coaches love. He routinely makes tackles down the feel while tracking down the runner from behind. His energy rarely stops.

Now Broughton will employ those skills for a tough-minded position coach with whom he is already familiar. Sounds like a good combination.