The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Vernon Broughton chosen in the third round of the NFL Draft by New Orleans Saints
04.25.2025 | Football
The defensive lineman went 71st overall in the 2025 NFL Draft.
GREEN BAY, Wisc. – Texas defensive lineman Vernon Broughton was selected with the 71st overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints Friday night.
It's the second-consecutive year that Texas has had two defensive linemen drafted in the first three rounds. Broughton will join Longhorn teammate Kelvin Banks Jr. in New Orleans, who went ninth overall to the Saints Thursday evening.
Broughton is Texas' sixth pick through three rounds in this year's draft, joining OL Kelvin Banks Jr. (first round, ninth overall, New Orleans Saints), DB Jahdae Barron (first round, 20th overall, Denver Broncos), WR Matthew Golden (first round, 23rd overall, Green Bay Packers), DT Alfred Collins (second round, 43rd overall, San Francisco 49ers) and DB Andrew Mukuba (second round, 64th overall, Philadelphia Eagles). With Barron, Collins and Broughton going in the first three rounds, it clinches the most UT defensive players to go in the first three rounds since 2010 when safety Earl Thomas was drafted in the first round by the Seahawks and LB Sergio Kindle (Baltimore Ravens) and DE Lamarr Houston (Oakland Raiders) were picked in the second round.
"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," Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. "That helped him a lot, and he embraced it by being patient and seizing the moment when his opportunity came."
"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."
Broughton had a five-year career as a Longhorn, seeing action in 56 games with 17 starts. The Houston product was a mainstay on Texas' defense in 2024 and started all 16 games. He logged 39 tackles (24 solo), 4.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, two pass break-ups, two forced fumbles and recovered three fumbles.
Applying immense pressure up front, Broughton helped the Longhorns lead the FBS in total interceptions (22) while ranking No. 2 in turnovers gained (31) and team passing efficiency defense (104.56) in 2024. UT also ranked third in the FBS in total defense (283.4 ypg), scoring defense (15.3 ppg) and red zone defense (0.692), while also sitting seventh in the nation in passing yards allowed (173.8 ypg).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING
#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
A dream come true 🤘 @thekid_bigv pic.twitter.com/e8YG9CRboF
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 26, 2025
With the 71st pick in the Draft, the #Saints select:
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 26, 2025
Texas DT Vernon Broughton 💪#SaintsDraft | @CoxComm pic.twitter.com/TnDvfmdxfb
Disruption in the middle 😤#SaintsDraft | @TexasFootball pic.twitter.com/JuiN8s0rvu
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 26, 2025
With the 71st pick in the Draft, the #Saints select:
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) April 26, 2025
Texas DT Vernon Broughton 💪#SaintsDraft | @CoxComm pic.twitter.com/TnDvfmdxfb
