Devaughn Vele leads three players to watch against the Panthers

By Ross Jackson

After an eventful trade deadline, the New Orleans Saints are embracing their position among the NFL as a rebuilding team. That provides a jolt for the rest of the season as a very important evaluation period. 

While rookie quarterback Tyler Shough is the most important player in that process for now, there are several pieces that are looking to prove to New Orleans that they can be a part of the team’s future or to confirm that the club has made the right investment already.

As the team prepares to head to Charlotte, N.C. to take on the Carolina Panthers in their Week 10 matchup, eyes will be on some of those players. The headliner being a big-bodied wide receiver that has been confusingly underutilized this season, but now has a wide open opportunity ahead of him. 

WR Devaughn Vele

With wide receiver Rashid Shaheed traded to the Seattle Seahawks, Vele should be stepping into a more featured role. Shaheed has manned 74% of offensive snaps for the Saints this year. With him now in the Pacific Northwest, those 45+ snaps per game are now available. 

It won’t be just Vele to fill them. Wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Mason Tipton are likely to see opportunities. However, the Saints traded a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh in order to land Vele this offseason. Thus far, he’s seen just 10 targets, five catches and 39 receiving yards, along with one touchdown reception.

Now, he should have a chance to be a more focused part of the offense.

DE Chase Young

Since returning from injury, Young has been off to a fast start. His netting of three sacks over the course of three games is a career-first for the pass rusher and he has proven to be a disruptive investment for the club already. 

The Saints signed him to a large extension last offseason, showing him that they believe he will be a big part of the team’s future. So far, he’s proving that confidence was not misplaced. Going up against the Panthers and quarterback Bryce Young, the Saints’ edge rusher will look to continue his streak.

LG Dillon Radunz

With former left guard starter Trevor Penning traded to the Los Angeles Chargers, Radunz will assume the starting role he held as the season began. The production numbers say that the Saints were a more successful rushing team with Radunz leading the way, having run for over 100 team rushing yards in two of his three starts. New Orleans has not done that again in their last five matchups. 

Radunz will be back in the lineup along with up to two more backup starters, center Luke Fortner and likely right tackle Asim Richards. All three of which have extensive time with Shough from scout team reps before he (and they) joined the starting group.