The New Orleans Saints were in need of a big-bodied WR, so that's what they added in their second preseason trade of the week.
The Saints announced Wednesday afternoon they'd executed a trade for WR Devaughn Vele of the Denver Broncos. The compensation will be a 2026 4th rounder and a 2027 7th rounder, according to a report from the NFL Network.
New Orleans' wide receiver room is currently headlined by Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks, all high-level players but also all slight of frame. The need for a bigger bodied player became even more apparent after a season-ending ankle injury to Bub Means.
Vele has been dealing with some knee issues throughout this camp, which has prompted some off days for maintenance, by Denver head coach Sean Payton downplayed those concerns. The Saints are clearly satisfied with the WR's health.
In Vele the Saints are getting a 6-5, 210-pound player whom the Broncos picked in the 7th round in 2024 out of Utah. Vele was an immediate contributor in Sean Payton's offense, catching 41 passes for 475 yards and three touchdowns over 13 games in his rookie season. As is the case for many players entering the league these days, Vele is an older player, 27, despite just entering his second year in the NFL. That's because he opted to do a 2-year Mormon mission out of high school prior to joining Utah as a walk-on.
Vele's receiving yards ranked 10th among NFL rookies last year in a notably deep class that was headlined by former LSU stars Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., and his 475 yards was more than 11 of the 13 WRs drafted between rounds 2-4. The exceptions were young Chargers star Ladd McConkey (82 catches, 1,149 yards, 7 TDs) and Bills standout Keon Coleman (29 catches, 556 yards, 4 TDs). Both of those players were high second round selections.
Vele is the third former Ute the Saints have added to the roster this offseason, along with safeties Julian Blackmon and Terrell Burgess. The trio were teammates back in the 2019 season.
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The trade marks the second deal the Saints have swung this week and the second that involves a team they face this preseason. The first sent DT Khalen Saunders to the Jaguars in exchange for center Luke Fortner, who had played against the Saints in the Caesars Superdome just a few hours earlier. Vele will get a quick reunion with his former team, with the Saints scheduled to host the Broncos on Saturday.