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Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Third-Round Choice Vernon Broughton May Be Just What The Saints Needed For Their Defense
The New Orleans Saints used the first of their two third-round picks in the NFL Draft on Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Vernon Broughton. Broughton was the seventh choice in the third round and the 71st overall selection. He was the 10th defensive tackle picked and the first of four consecutive defensive players that the Saints would draft. Advertisement New Orleans needs to fix a defense that ranked 30th overall last season, including a woeful 31st against the run. Here are the abilities that attracted the Saints to Broughton that might help do it. DT - Vernon Broughton, Texas Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) is pressured by Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Vernon Broughton (45). Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images The Longhorns won the recruiting battle for Broughton, a four-star recruit from Cypress Ridge High School in Texas. Between 2020 and 2022, Broughton would appear in 26 games as a reserve. Over that stretch, he had 1.5 sacks and 3 tackles for loss among his 14 total tackles. By 2023, Broughton was a more active member of the Longhorns line rotation and had a sack to go with 5 tackles for loss. He was a starter last season and would respond with 4 sacks, 5 stops for loss, and 39 total tackles. Advertisement Despite a formidable build at 6'4" and 305-Lbs., Broughton doesn't always play with the necessary power required at an interior line position. He's been inconsistent against the run, too often getting buried or moved off point by double-teams. Texas Longhorns edge rusher Vernon Broughton (45) rushes Kentucky Wildcats quarterback Cutter Boley (8). Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images A good athlete for his size, Broughton is still developing those traits. He'll need to expand his tools as a pass rusher and must also disengage more consistently to be involved in plays down the line. Broughton gets almost instant penetration into opposing backfields because of his explosive burst at the snap. His constant upper body movement helps him set up counter moves and gives him several tools as a pass rusher. Advertisement Against the run, Broughton plays with very good leverage that helps him anchor against double-teams, especially with increased strength. Once he's able to disengage, his terrific lateral agility helps him make plays down the line of scrimmage. He also has surprising speed and closing burst to chase plays down from behind. Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Vernon Broughton (45) hits Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) during the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal. © Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Bo Davis was the defensive line coach at Texas for three years while Broughton was with the Longhorns. Davis is the new defensive line coach of the Saints. Clearly, the familiarity between Davis and Broughton was a major factor in the choice. Broughton must show that he can be a force inside against the run at the NFL level. However, he also has enough athletic skills and pass rush ability to play end in 3-man fronts that the Saints are expected to employ more often. Advertisement New Orleans desperately needed a big-bodied interior force, particularly against opposing rushing attacks. The familiarity between Bo Davis and Vernon Broughton could be an indication that the Saints believe they found just that player in Round 3 of this year's draft. Related: Why Saints Drafting Of Kelvin Banks Jr. Made Sense Related: Saints Draft Pick Tyler Shough Among Favorites For 2025 NFL Rookie Of The Year Related: Why The Saints Targeted Oklahoma Linebacker Danny Stutsman In The Draft Related: How Louisville Draft Pick Quincy Riley Fills A Saints Need Related: What Kansas Draft Choice Devin Neal Adds To Saints Offense Related: Syracuse Draft Choice Fadil Diggs May Fill A Critical Role For The Saints
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions prospect profile: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes defensive end Jack Sawyer (33) sacks Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) forcing a fumble during the second half of the Cotton Bowl Classic College Football Playoff semifinal game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10, 2025. Sawyer returned the fumble for a touchdown, and Ohio State won 28-14. Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer is another name commonly projected to the Detroit Lions in early-offseason mock drafts. In fact, he's the Lions first-round choice in nearly 20 percent of those projections, according to the Mock Draft Database. What makes Sawyer such a popular projection for Detroit? His impactful play in Ohio State's championship run, notably his highlight-reel strip sack TD against Texas, certainly captured a lot of late attention. Sawyer is more than just those highlights, however... Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State Well-muscled 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds (listed by Ohio State) that could measure in bigger than that Notched 9 sacks, 3 forced fumbles and 59 total tackles in 16 games in 2024 Two-time Academic All-Big Ten 5-star recruit and four-year full-time player for Ohio State Turns 23 in May Games watched: Western Michigan, Marshall Oregon, Iowa, Penn State, Michigan, Tennessee (CFP), Oregon (CFP), Texas (CFP), Notre Dame (CFP) Positives Great edge-setter without losing sight of his rush Refined, consistent stack-and-shed skills on the outside Long, powerful arms and developed upper-body strength Good square-up tackler in the box and right off the offensive tackle Powerful leg drive as a bull rusher Good balance out of contact and quick recovery from a fake Has nice power-to-speed off his rip and leverage moves Play with infectious emotional intensity Negatives Not unathletic by any means, but Sawyer doesn't win with twitch or burst Tight lower body hurts his ability to accelerate out of contact Tends to get too upright when trying to bend the corner Doesn't have a chase gear or above-average closing burst to the ball Will try to initiate the tackler from too far away and fall off the tackle Not fluid or instinctive enough to drop in coverage at the next level Overall It's immediately evident in every Buckeye game tape that Sawyer is a Dan Campbell/Brad Holmes kind of football player. His football IQ, play-to-play intensity and passion for the game are patently obvious. Sawyer is a pretty effective power-style EDGE presence, too. Advertisement There are some legit athletic limitations that are apparent. Sawyer is not an explosive or lithe athlete; he's more of an average/adequate speed, agility and quickness, not exceptional in any. He's also a little smaller than the typical "crush the can" edge the Lions have favored across from Aidan Hutchinson. Sawyer makes up for it as best as he can with quick reactions, tenacity and excellent positional responsibility. The first round is far too rich for my taste for Sawyer with his athletic ceiling. He should be a strong candidate for Detroit's second pick in the draft if he's still on the board, which is debatable at this point (it's February 9th). This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Lions prospect profile: Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State
