Vernon Broughton NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for New Orleans Saints DL

The New Orleans Saints selected Texas DL Vernon Broughton with the No. 71 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

Vernon Broughton certainly looks the part of an NFL defensive tackle with impressive size and great arm length. That helps him be a good run defender, as he’s stout at the point of attack and uses his long arms to help get extension on blocks. He’s hard to move one-on-one and has shown the ability to occasionally split double-teams.

Vernon Broughton Highlights

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However, Broughton lacks upside as a pass-rusher. He isn’t a good bull-rusher, doesn’t have the twitch and use of hands to be effective with finesse moves, and needs to rush with a better plan. That will likely cap his ceiling in the NFL.

With that said, the Texas product is a good target as a late Day 3 pick for a team looking for a 3-technique defensive tackle to add some depth to its interior run defense.

MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 311

HAND: 9¼” 

ARM: 35” 

WINGSPAN: 83⅞”

POSITIVES

— Good size with excellent arm length for an NFL defensive tackle.

— Has the strength at the point of attack to gain control of the block and create stalemates at the line of scrimmage.

— Can lock out guards and get plenty of extension with long arms to help shed blocks when he keeps his hands tight.

— Takes on blocks with a sturdy base and is hard to move with one-on-one base blocks.

— Solid at anticipating double-teams and combo blocks to get skinny and occasionally split the blockers.

NEGATIVES

— Plays with high pad level and lacks explosion off the line of scrimmage to be an effective bull-rusher. 

— Doesn’t use his hands well and isn’t quick-twitched enough to be an effective pass-rusher with finesse moves.

— Hand placement is often wide versus the run, exposing his chest.

— Plays high and struggles to sink his hips to avoid getting washed inside against down blocks.

NOTES

— 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— No major injuries

— 2021; Academic First-Team All-Big 12

— 2020; Academic All-Big 12 rookie team

GRADE: 6.0 (Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 210

POSITION RANK: DL20

PRO COMPARISON: Da’Shawn Hand

Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder