This time last year Devaughn Vele was also deep into the action at an NFL training camp, it just happened to be in Denver.
The Saints didn't swing the deal to bring the big-bodied WR until late into training camp last year. Vele got off to a slow start before becoming a lead target for QB Tyler Shough down the stretch. His plan is to take full advantage of a full camp this time around.
"It’s a lot easier, especially playbook-wise, rather than me just having to learn the Xs and Os, now I can actually add a little bit of flavor to how I run my routes," Vele said when he spoke exclusively with WWL Radio. "Understanding coverages, especially with how dudes play, and also building chemistry with the team, so I’m excited to have another year under my belt with the team and excited for the things we’re going to do this year.”
Hear WWL Radio's exclusive interview with Devaughn Vele in the player above.
Brought to you by TRANESOUTH: It's hard to stop a Tranewww.audacy.comVele arrived with a stamp of approval from Sean Payton, who drafted Vele in the 7th round out of Utah in 2025. He impressed as a rookie, rolling up 55 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns, but it took a while for him to carve out a full role with the Saints. There was a bit of a logjam at the position with Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed and Brandin Cooks the lead tandem heading into the year. By the end of the season Cooks was on the Broncos and Shaheed was winning a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.
While dealing with a hip injury early in the season, Vele managed just six catches through his first nine games, but that changed quickly down the stretch. Starting with a three-catch game in a loss to the Falcons, Vele hauled in 19 catches for 39 yards and a touchdown over his final four games before missing Weeks 16-18 due to injury. More impressively he did it on just 26 total targets, including a perfect 8-for-8 in a close loss to the Dolphins. Vele also made clutch receptions late to seal a win over the Bucs and, most importantly, hauled in contested catches at an incredible rate to build trust from his quarterback.
Head coach Kellen Moore noted earlier this offseason that one of his regrets from the 2025 season was not getting Vele more involved in the offense earlier in the season. This year Vele has a more defined role, but he'll still have to contend for targets with Olave, No. 8 overall pick Jordyn Tyson, as well as a host of talented TEs and RBs vying for targets.
“I think it really comes down to every week is a different battle, a different gameplan" Moore said, "and you just have to have the versatility to play different styles through a season.
The WR said one his favorite traits about Shough is his willingness to give his receivers opportunities to go make a play, nowhere better displayed than on his TD catch against the Dolphins with the QB rolling out against pressure and finding Vele in the back of the end zone.
Vele wants his quarterback to know that if the ball gets thrown up in his vicinity, the WR is coming down with it, and that confidence was clear to see late in the season. Vele's season-ending shoulder injury came on that type of ball in a win over the Panthers, with a defender landing on his as they went to the ground. Vele stuck around after the season to complete his rehab, but felt 100% well into his offseason process. The injury won't make him shy away from similar catches in the future.
“When the ball is in the air, I want to believe that I can catch everything, even if it’s one of those that’s like, 'ah, it’s OK, you didn’t catch it,' " Vele continued. "In my head I always view everything like, if it touches my hands I have to catch it. dI hold myself to that standard, because ... that’s the only way you’re going to elevate your game is hold yourself to a higher standard. If other people are holding yourself to a higher standard than you are yourself, then you’re doing something wrong..”
The connection between Shough and Vele is also an interesting one, because both players have often been dismissed due to getting into the league as older players. Shough is heading into Year 2 at 26 years old, while Vele heads into Year 3 at 28.
“I know they always harp about age, but one thing about the NFL, they’re a production-based business, so if you can play ball, it doesn’t matter if you’re 40 years old, if you’re making plays they’re going to play you out there," Vele told WWL. "So I feel like me and Shough have that same mentality. We came in like, everybody can say what they say about our age, but at the end of the day if you’re making plays they’re going to play you. That’s kind of the chip that we have on our shoulder coming in is we’re going to try to contribute where we can on the team and make those plays so that we can get the opportunity to showcase what we can do on Sundays.”
