The New Orleans Saints pulled off a trade with the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, bringing in wide receiver Devaughn Vele. In return, Denver received a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round selection.
Vele, a 27-year-old who entered the league as a seventh-round pick out of Utah in 2024, has appeared in 13 games with seven starts for the Broncos last season. He posted 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns, ranking third on the team in both catches and receiving yards. He missed portions of the offseason program due to a knee injury but showed in the preseason that he can contribute, recording one catch for six yards in Denver’s two exhibition games.
At 6-foot-5, Vele provides the Saints with a size element they’ve been lacking in their receiver group. New Orleans’ top pass-catchers—Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, and Brandin Cooks—are all undersized by NFL standards, which has led to questions about matchups against bigger corners. The addition of a bigger target could help in red-zone looks and in contested catches, especially as the Saints navigate Week 1 quarterback questions between Spencer Rattler and rookie Tyler Shough.
Further complicating matters for New Orleans, Foster Moreau and Taysom Hill have been working back from knee injuries, and 6-2 wideout Bub Means is on the injured reserve list, meaning the team has been leaning on a shorter receiving corps. Cooks has emphasized that height isn’t everything, noting that separation and route running matter just as much, a sentiment echoed by the Saints’ depth chart as they seek reliable contributors in 2024.
For Denver, the deal brings back draft capital while shedding a player who has shown potential but remained in a crowded receiver room. The Broncos have used three different draft picks on wide receivers over the past two years—Pat Bryant in April, and Devaughn Vele along with Troy Franklin in 2024—reflecting a continued emphasis on building depth at the position.
Overall, the trade gives New Orleans a measurable height boost and another option for quarterback development as the club enters the regular season. It also highlights how both teams are balancing immediate needs with longer-term plans as rosters tighten toward the 53-man cut.
Summary: The Saints added a 6-foot-5 target in Devaughn Vele to bolster a shorter receiving corps while the Broncos recoup draft capital and continue to shape their WR depth. The move aligns with New Orleans’ goal of adding versatility and mismatch possibilities as the QB situation is settled, and it signals Denver’s ongoing evaluation of young receivers in a competitive roster environment. Positive outlook: Vele’s size and previous production give the Saints a tangible floor as they explore Week 1 options, and the trade reflects proactive moves by both teams to optimize depth and future assets.