The New Orleans Saints enhanced their receiving corps before the start of the regular season by trading for Devaughn Vele from the Denver Broncos, as announced by both teams on Wednesday.
For this acquisition, Denver received a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft along with a seventh-round pick in the 2027 draft.
The adaptable Vele was chosen in the seventh round by the Broncos during the 2024 NFL draft after playing at Utah. At 27 years old, he participated in 13 games, starting in seven, recording 41 catches amounting to 475 yards, ranking third among his teammates in receiving, and scoring three touchdowns.
Vele, who had to sit out part of the offseason program due to a knee injury, made one reception for 6 yards in the two preseason matches the Broncos played.
The 6-foot-5 Vele will serve as a significant target for a New Orleans squad still deciding on its Week 1 quarterback, with Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough vying for the position throughout the training sessions.
This addition also offers the Saints greater height among their receiving corps, as their leading three receivers—Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks—stand at 6 feet or below. Meanwhile, two of their tight ends who catch passes, Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill, are currently rehabbing from knee injuries, and 6-2 wide receiver Bub Means has been placed on injured reserve during training camp, sidelining him for the entire season.
These receivers have addressed concerns regarding their lack of height all summer, with Cooks mentioning in June that outmaneuvering the opposing corner is more crucial than physical stature.
“I believe many of us can accomplish that, thus there’s a prevalent narrative: There’s no tall or large individual, yet we all have the ability to create separation, making our similarities irrelevant,” Cooks stated. “We can all perform effectively in any environment.”
Coach Sean Payton expressed since the start of training camp that the decision-makers in Denver would face some tough calls regarding wide receivers when the roster is trimmed to 53 players next week. The Broncos have invested three draft picks in the last two years to acquire receivers: Pat Bryant in April, along with Vele and Troy Franklin in 2024.
Bryant and Franklin are part of the receiving group that includes Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and Trent Sherfield Sr., who have recently been ahead of Vele on the depth chart.
In response to inquiries about the receiver lineup this past week, Payton remarked, “I’m pleased with it; we will face some difficult choices. There’s a possibility that a wideout here today could find a spot on a 53-man roster elsewhere. That’s a positive development.”
Vele is set to celebrate his 28th birthday in December and will reach 30 by the end of his rookie contract. His journey in college athletics faced interruptions as he undertook a two-year Mormon mission immediately following high school. Afterward, he sat out his initial year and received an additional season due to the impacts of COVID-19.
“I realize my timeline is different from many others,” he stated previously. “I intend to work swiftly to make an impact.”
This marks the Saints’ second trade within a week. They traded defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jacksonville Jaguars for center Luke Fortner mere hours following their Sunday matchup.
The Saints will face the Broncos in the preseason finale this Saturday in New Orleans.
