NFL Draft
3/25/25
5 min read
Vernon Broughton 2025 NFL Draft: Scouting Report For Texas Longhorns DT
Height: 6050 (verified)
Weight: 311lbs (verified)
Year: Redshirt Senior
Pro Comparison: Phidarian Mathis
Scouting Overview
Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Vernon Broughton possesses the ideal length to play the point of attack and illustrates some pleasant upside as a pass rusher and a run defender at the highest levels of college football.
Broughton is often the forgotten man on the Texas front but should be considered a potential key role player depending on how his NFL team wishes to implement him in either a gap control or penetration scheme. His usage versatility will be a helpful feather in his cap during the draft process.
2025 NFL Combine Results
DNP
Positives
- Has the ideal length to punch, press, and extend blockers at the point of attack
- Shows a pleasant first step that allows him to gain access to some gaps as a rusher inside
- Does possess enough rush variety to attack with some power and push the pocket
Negatives
- Is built top-heavy, which shows at times when trying to play under control in attack mode
- Processing of plays and deconstruction of blocks can be expedited to maximize production
- Is not a particularly dynamic reaction athlete and relies on the initial coil to stress angles vs. flashing and reacting to the ball in space
Background
Broughton is from Houston, TX, and played high school football at Cy Ridge HS. There, he was a 4-star recruit (247 Sports) who committed to Texas over offers from schools like Ohio State, LSU, and Texas A&M. He joined the Longhorns as a member of their 2020 recruiting class.
Broughton played in two games for Texas in 2020 and redshirted before playing in 24 games during the next two seasons, making his first career start during the 2022 season. By the end of the 2023 year, Broughton had played in 40 games with two career starts after being caught behind notable NFL talents like Byron Murphy II and T’Vondre Sweat in the trenches.
Brougton’s big breakthrough came in 2024 when he started 15 out of 16 games played and posted nearly half of his career defensive snaps this past season.
Tale Of The Tape
Broughton should be considered an intriguing addition and a potential hidden gem on account of his limited playing time during his time at Texas. Broughton was understandably bogged down in the depth chart behind two top-50 picks from the 2024 NFL Draft while playing alongside another potential top-50 talent in Alfred Collins this past season.
Broughton has a number of uncoachables. He’s got elite length and a massive wingspan. It’s paired with a surprising first step for a 310-pound player. The lack of reps is apparent in some of the phases of his game, most notably in the run defense.
As a run defender, Broughton has good punch power and the reach necessary to stack blocks at the point of attack but is missing the block diagnosis speed that would allow him to quickly negotiate blocks and work to appropriate gaps to create run stuffs. It is fair to assume that with a greater workload and more playing time, he should grow in this area and could be considered a developmental talent who plays as a 4i or a 3-tech in odd or even fronts.
Broughton possesses a sufficient anchor, but he’s built top-heavy, which can challenge his balance at the point of attack. If he leans into a gap, he can lose his base and control at the point. As a result, he needs better execution with his stack of blocks to ensure he’s collected and further develop his deconstruction techniques to uncover.
However, he does project best as a gap control player in the run game. He lacks the dynamic athleticism required to shoot gaps and create chaos at the mesh point.
As a rusher, Broughton shows a good variety and is capable of coiling into his stance before working to the edges of blockers. This is partly thanks to active and busy hands that allow him to sustain his initial momentum.
He can play with power through the frame of blockers but is missing that lower-body collapse to run the feet and build momentum throughout the rush. As a result, whether Broughton is rushing power or speed, his rushes do seem to run out of gas deeper into the rep.
This causes challenges with his ability to finish the rep cleanly and make the splash plays with consistency. When uncovered in the backfield and coming to balance to challenge a ball carrier, he’s allowed ball carriers and quarterbacks to slide out of his tackle radius despite his length — a further testament to that missing explosiveness that would put him over the top as a player.
Ideal Scheme Fit, Role
Thanks to his punch power and length, Broughton has upside as either a rotational rush player or a gap-control defender. His next team could lean into either, but he’s currently too in-between roles and skill sets to be considered a starter in either world.
Grade: 72.00/100.00, Fourth Round Value
Big Board Rank: 139
Position Rank: IDL16
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