Saints land Big-Bodied WR Devaughn Vele via trade

By Ross Jackson

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The New Orleans Saints have pulled off their second trade in four days, this time landing a key prototype and major need on offense.

The Saints have sent a pair of draft picks to the Denver Broncos and old friend Sean Payton for a big-bodied wide receiver: Devaughn Vele.

TRADE 🚨

The #Saints have acquired WR Devaughn Vele from the Broncos in exchange for future considerations ⚜️ pic.twitter.com/ELO3i7jhDH

— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) August 20, 2025

Vele may be in his second year as an NFL pro, but he will be turning 28-years-old in December. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, he served a mission before continuing his football career.

The former Utah player heads to New Orleans in exchange for a 2026 fourth round selection and 2027 seventh round pick. This price tag indicates that the Saints must have really liked the 2024 seventh-round selection. 

He spent a lot of time on the field for the Broncos last season and impressed. He reeled in 75.9 percent of his targets and was the team’s third-leading receiver in 2024 with 475 receiving yards and three touchdown catches.

He also snagged 60 percent of his contested catch opportunities while taking 69.5 percent of his snaps from the slot. 

His inside/out versatility, reliable hands and 6-foot-5, 210 pound check multiple boxes for what the Saints desperately needed and were lacking at the position.

Vele joins a busy room of wide receivers, but could easily now steal the fifth wide receiver spot on the roster behind shoo-ins Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed, Brandin Cooks and Mason Tipton.