After playing in just one game of his rookie season, the New Orleans Saints announced that former Texas defensive tackle Vernon Broughton would likely miss the remainder of the season.
Broughton didn't appear in New Orleans' season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, but he did play against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, earning three total tackles in his NFL debut. The former Longhorn defensive star played 24 snaps in his first professional game.
The Saints shared that Broughton had suffered a hip injury and was speaking to doctors about all possibilities, ensuring that surgery was truly required before undergoing an operation.
The defensive tackle played five years for the Longhorns, truly finding his footing during his redshirt junior and senior seasons. While in college, he earned 70 total tackles (39 solo), 6.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and two forced fumbles for Texas.
Broughton quickly turned into an attractive draft option for teams needing to beef up their defensive lines (especially since he stands at 6-foot-5 and 311 pounds). In the 2025 NFL Draft, the Saints selected Broughton in the third round, making him the 71st overall pick.
#Saints rookie DT Vernon Broughton is expected to miss the rest of the season with a hip injury, sources tell The Insiders. The third-round pick is getting multiple opinions to see if surgery is required. Broughton flashed potential in 24 snaps yesterday in his season debut. pic.twitter.com/wFzPKIMG9F
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) September 15, 2025
During the Saints' three-week preseason schedule, Broughton lined up in all three games. He earned six total tackles (two solo) and a fumble recovery as New Orleans worked through their matchups against the Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Denver Broncos.
When was Vernon Broughton drafted by the Saints?
Broughton was the sixth Texas player drafted in 2025, following first-rounders Kelvin Banks Jr. (who was also selected by New Orleans), Jahdae Barron (drafted by Denver), and Matthew Golden (taken by the Green Bay Packers).
Alfred Collins, going to the 49ers, and Andrew Mukuba, going to the Philadelphia Eagles, were selected during the second round of the Draft.
12 total Longhorns were drafted in 2025, including former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is currently playing QB3 behind Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson in Miami.