Saints WR Devaughn Vele in line for breakout 2026

By Ross Jackson

While a lot of the attention this offseason has understandably been on players with expiring contracts and rookie quarterback Tyelr Shough’s Offensive Rookie of the Year candidacy and development, one New Orleans Saints player stands to be a major benefactor from the way things have played out so far this offseason: wide receiver Devaughn Vele.

The retention of quarterback coach Scott Tolzien should be looked back on at this time next year as a major win for the Saints, who retained the coach amid offensive coordinator consideration with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Keeping Tolzien in the Crescent City allows Shough’s development to remain consistent and keeps head coach Kellen Moore’s messaging on track.

While that role directly impacts the quarterback position, it has a large impact on the players that quarterback is throwing the football to as well. While Shough continues to grow and his play remains on a promising trajectory, pass-catchers like Vele, wide receiver Chris Olave and tight end Juwan Johnson could see boosts to their production.

Vele, who took a while for the Saints to get involved in 2025, showed why the team was willing to ship off fourth- and seventh-round selections to get the wideout to New Orleans from the Denver Broncos in the preseason.

Down the stretch, Vele reeled in 19 receptions for 239 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in his final four games last year.

Hit boost in production came with Shough at the helm, even after initially not seeing his involvement increase after the trade that sent former Saints wideout Rashid Shaheed to the Seattle Seahawks.

Between his remarkable catch radius and his ability to make physical catches through contact in the middle of the field, Vele showed the value he can bring to the Saints when fully incorporated into the offense. Depending on how New Orleans addresses his position room in 2026, his opportunities should be on the horizon much earlier in the season.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound pass-catcher is set to have a breakout season in 2026 opposite Olave and the other receivers that populate the group. As Shough’s arrow continues to trend upward, so too does Vele’s.