Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
By Ross Jackson
After finally landing the big-bodied wide receiver via trade that the New Orleans Saints desperately needed, the eyes of concern turned to whether or not the team overspent in the acquisition.
The Saints traded a 2026 fourth-round pick and seventh-rounder from 2027 to the Denver Broncos to land 6-foot-5, 210-pound wide receiver Devaughn Vele. Now, for the first time all offseason, the Saints have a wide receiver over 6-foot-2, something many have said the team very much required.
But now, even though they have answered the call of many, the focus has shifted to the payment. The fourth-round pick in particular.
A Look Back At Fourth-Round Wideouts
Looking over the last ten years of NFL Drafts, there have only been four fourth-round rookies that have reeled in more than 450 receiving yards in their first seasons:
Amon-Ra St. Brown (2021) – 912 receiving yards
Gabe Davis (2020) – 599 receiving yards
Antonio Callaway (2018) – 586 receiving yards
Jamison Crowder (2015) – 604 receiving yards
As a seventh-round rookie receiver last year, Vele was the Bronco’s third-leading receiver with 475 receiving yards.
Therefore, if the alternative of trading for Vele is to wait, not address the need this season and instead look towards next year’s draft, the decision seems obvious that trading for Vele was the better option.
A Look At The Saints’ Recent Fourth-Round Picks
Excluding the 2025 draft class, which hasn’t seen a regular season snap yet, here are the Saints’ fourth-round selections from previous last ten years (2015-2024):
2015: No fourth-round pick
2016: DT David Onyemata
2017: No fourth-round pick
2018: OL Rick Leonards
2019: S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
2020: No fourth-round pick
2021: QB Ian Book
2022: No fourth-round pick
2023: OL Nick Saldiveri and QB Jake Haener
2024: No fourth-round pick
Five times the Saints did not select in the fourth round, and out of the six players that they have selected, one remains on the roster (Haener) and only two have played considerable snaps as a starter (Garner-Johnson and Onyemata). The fourth round hasn’t exactly been a treasure trove of draft class production for New Orleans.
The Saints likely got a pair of good players this year in linebacker Danny Stutsman and cornerback Quincy Riley, but the 2025 draft class was also notably strong in the middle rounds, which next year’s draft may not be.
Overpay Or Not, Vele Fills a Need
All told, the Saints did what they had to do in order to get a missing piece to their offense. Overpay or not, it was a necessary move for a player that they, and other teams reportedly, wanted. When taking into consideration the recent NFL trends, picks and their production, it seems more sensible than at first glance.
There is a viable concern about trading such capital for a soon-to-be 28-year-old wideout going into his second year. But it will be on the Saints to maximize that. Vele has the ability to contribute in a way that no other pass-catchers in the room can. If the Saints get the most out of that throughout the remainder of his time with the team, the fourth-round pick won’t likely be missed.
Devaughn Vele was such a pleasant surprise last season. Consistent hands over the middle, efficient separator, and fantastic instincts to find open grass when plays broke down. Very excited to see what he can do in his sophomore campaign. pic.twitter.com/G4vtY3bw4Y
— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) July 24, 2025
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