Vernon Broughton can't escape having to face his former Texas teammate, Kelvin Banks Jr., in practices. For the last five years, Broughton and Banks lined up across each other on the line, Banks an offensive tackle and Broughton a defensive tackle.
Now, the two former Longhorns are heading to New Orleans together after both being selected by the Saints in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Broughton was selected in the third round as the 71st overall pick, following the trail forged by Banks, who was picked ninth overall in the first round just a day earlier. Broughton became the sixth Longhorn drafted over the first three rounds, joining fellow defensive tackle Alfred Collins and safety Andrew Mukuba on night two.
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
Vernon Broughton college career stats
- 70 total tackles (39 solo)
- 6.5 sacks
- 3 pass deflections
- 2 forced fumbles
During his fifth and final year with the Horns, Broughton truly excelled, earning career highs for total tackles (39), sacks (4), pass deflections (2), and forced fumbles (2).
Listed at just 6-foot-4 and 306 pounds, Broughton doesn't sound like the biggest guy out there, but he is a domineering force on the football field. At the combine, he actually weighed in at 311 pounds, while also measuring his arm length at an astonishing 35 inches apiece and hand length a 9.25 inches each.
Broughton was the seventh pick in the third round. Mukuba was taken as the final pick (No. 32) of the second round, and Alfred Collins was the 11th pick in the second round. Joining Banks in the first round were defensive back Jahdae Barron, who was taken 20th overall, and wide receiver Matthew Golden, who was taken 23rd.