New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis announced that the team has agreed to acquire wide receiver Devaughn Vele in a trade with the Denver Broncos. Here are five things to know about the Saints roster addition:
- Vele joins the Saints heading into his second NFL season. As a rookie with the Broncos, he appeared in 13 regular season games with seven starts, recording 41 receptions for 475 yards with three touchdowns.
- Vele picked up 26 first downs in his 41 receptions, the second highest first down reception total for the Broncos in 2024. Vele did not falter on third downs either with 11 first down receptions, catching 12-of-16 targets for 139 yards in third-down situations. His longest reception on the season came on his only reception in a fourth-down situation, converting a fourth-and-two into a 37-yard reception in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Chargers. He also was efficient in the red zone, catching six-of-seven targets for 45 yards and three touchdowns.
- The 6'5, 210-pound wide receiver appeared in 47 games with 28 starts in his five seasons with the University of Utah Utes (2019-23). He recorded 123 catches for 1,689 yards and nine touchdowns plus returned 27 punts for 273 yards. He began his collegiate career as a walk-on before earning a scholarship in his second season. Vele was teammates with Saints safeties Julian Blackmon and Terrell Burgess.
- Between high school and college, Vele went on a two-year mission trip to Samoa as part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Vele said he has no regrets about taking the two years and coming into the league as an older rookie. "There were certain areas I was in where we didn't have running water," Vele said according to The Denver Gazette. "We didn't have a lot of food at the time, too. It wasn't raining. So, we had to shower from buckets. All of those things made me realize how grateful I am and privileged we are in America to have the things that we have. It was a lot of great work. I met a lot of great people. I like to believe that through God I was able to help change lives, too."
- The San Diego, California native played at Rancho Bernardo High School. In his senior year, he tallied 52 receptions for 980 yards with 11 touchdowns. He also completed his only pass attempt for a 45-yard touchdown and brought in two interceptions.
New Orleans Saints announced the club signed traded for wide receiver Devaughn Vele. Check out Vele in action with the Denver Broncos during his NFL career.
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) pulls in a pass in the second half an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. The Broncos won 33-10. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) takes part in drills at an NFL football training practice Monday, July 28, 2025, in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) reaches for a pass during the second half of an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) runs downfield during an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Brooke Sutton via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) takes part in drills during an NFL football training practice Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele takes part in drills during practice a the team's NFL football training camp, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) makes a catch during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024 in Denver. (Ben Swanson/Denver Broncos via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) runs with the ball after a reception during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) warms up prior to an NFL football wild card playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (Ben Swanson/Denver Broncos via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) takes part in drills during an NFL football team practice Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Centennial, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) reacts after a play during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 in Denver. (Rachel O'Driscoll/Denver Broncos via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) catches a tipped ball for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) makes a catch for a touchdown during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2024 in Denver. (Ben Swanson/Denver Broncos via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) celebrates a touchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Troy Franklin (16) runs with the ball during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 in Denver. (Rachel O'Driscoll/Denver Broncos via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) walks through the tunnel during an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025 in Denver. (Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) catches a touchdown next to Los Angeles Chargers safety Tony Jefferson (23) during the first half an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Trenton Simpson (23) breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) during an NFL football game, Sunday, November 3, 2024 in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) catches the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/Bart Young)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) carries the ball after completing a catch during an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 in Denver. (Brooke Sutton via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New Orleans. The Broncos defeated the Saints 33-10. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) runs the ball during an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, in New Orleans. The Broncos defeated the Saints 33-10. (Cooper Neill via AP)
Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) completes a catch during an NFL football game against the Las Vegas Raiders, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Michael Owens via AP)
Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Tarheeb Still (29) attempts a tackle on Denver Broncos wide receiver Devaughn Vele (17) during an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 in Denver. The Chargers defeated the Broncos, 23-16. (G. Newman Lowrance via AP)
