Vernon Broughton

Career StatsD+

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		1	—	3	0.5
2025		1	0.0	3	0.5

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Saints pulled off a legitimate steal by locking up Vernon Broughton at just $1.7M AAV over four years, earning an A- CVI that reflects exceptional value for a proven rotational defender. Getting a reliable rotational player at defensive tackle for well below market rate is shrewd roster building, especially when you factor in the modest $1.5M guaranteed that limits New Orleans' financial exposure. Broughton's production profile as a steady contributor off the bench perfectly aligns with what teams typically pay $3-4M annually to secure, making this deal look like a classic case of buying low on a player who quietly does his job. The contract structure heavily favors the Saints with minimal guaranteed money, giving them flexibility to move on without significant dead cap if needed while securing four years of cost-controlled depth. This is exactly the type of under-the-radar signing that championship rosters are built on — finding above-average role players at below-average prices while allocating premium dollars to star talent elsewhere.

Performance Analysis

Vernon Broughton is a raw but intriguing rookie defensive tackle for the Saints, just beginning to carve out his NFL identity through limited early exposure. Through one career game, his overall profile earns a D+ grade, reflecting the steep learning curve expected of first-year interior linemen. That said, early returns offer enough to suggest New Orleans may have something worth developing. His tackle rate of 3.00 per game surpasses the NFL average of 2.30, a legitimate bright spot for a player still adjusting to professional blocking schemes. His TFL rate of 0.50 per game also clears the league average of 0.35, hinting at above-average instincts for penetration and backfield disruption. The concern, naturally, is sustainability — one game is a whisper, not a statement, and consistency will define his trajectory far more than these early flashes. Broughton fits the mold of a developmental rotational tackle who could push for a more defined role by Year Two if he demonstrates the technique refinement and film study habits that separate career contributors from roster bubble casualties. His season trend sits at a C- in 2025, which, contextualized against rookie norms at the position, isn't alarming — it's expected. Watch whether the Saints expand his snaps in the back half of the season; increased opportunity will be the clearest signal that the coaching staff believes his upside justifies the investment.

Current Sentiment

Vernon Broughton carries a cautiously optimistic but largely unproven reputation entering 2026, earning a **C** grade from our Contract Value Index (CVI) analysis that reflects his status as a developmental project rather than an established contributor. The media narrative surrounding the Saints defensive tackle centers on his unfortunate 2025 injury that derailed what appeared to be promising development, with most coverage framing him as a reclamation case with intriguing upside rather than a reliable roster piece. New Orleans coaching staff has maintained measured public support for Broughton, particularly regarding potential rotational packages alongside Christen Miller, but the overall tone suggests cautious hope rather than genuine expectation of immediate impact. His preseason flashes in 2025 — showcasing pass-rush ability and physicality — have kept him in fan and media conversations as a potential sleeper, though most analysts appropriately temper enthusiasm given his injury history and lack of proven regular-season production. The consensus view positions Broughton as a "name to monitor" rather than a player commanding significant attention, with his 2026 trajectory entirely dependent on health and translating preseason promise into meaningful snaps. This middling sentiment reflects the realistic assessment of a depth piece with potential rather than a proven commodity, making him more of an organizational development story than a fantasy-relevant asset.