New Orleans Saints wide receiver Devaughn Vele (14) and New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (83) smile while running a drill before the start of the preseason game against the Denver Broncos at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (Staff photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune)
STAFF PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD
When [Devaughn Vele](https://www.nola.com/tncms/asset/editorial/f1a1bfb2-9f98-4f35-8e8f-a6e27cb20752/) found out he was traded to the New Orleans Saints last week, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton told the wide receiver many of the same things he would later say publicly.
The coach told him how hard a decision it was to make. Payton and general manager George Paton wished him the best, Vele said.
“At the end of the day, I understand it’s a business,” Vele said. “It’s no hard feelings, nothing like that. Just understanding I’ve got to adjust and to contribute where I can.”
The Saints will need him to contribute right away. After New Orleans traded a 2026 fourth-round pick and 2027 seventh-round pick for the 27-year-old, Vele’s skill set could specifically be a valuable asset against the Saints’ first opponent of the season.
Few teams love to disguise exotic pressures and formations quite like the Arizona Cardinals, requiring quarterbacks to make quick decisions. On Monday, Saints coach Kellen Moore noted the stress the Cardinals’ defense puts on an offense, from the flexibility of their safeties to the five-man “penny” fronts along the defensive line.
But in Denver, Vele emerged as a safety valve — and his 6-foot-5 size gives quarterbacks a big blanket when in danger.
“There’s a lot of things I try to focus on a lot to improve my game,” Vele said. “I know people see (my size) as an asset, so we’re going to try to utilize that as much as I can, but at the same time, I’m just willing to work.”
One of the more interesting decisions for the Saints’ coaching staff will be where exactly to line up the second-year wideout. In Denver, the Broncos discovered Vele could thrive from the slot — where he played 62.5% of his snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. But the slot was a new adjustment for Vele last year after playing on the outside in college.
Moore has said he sees Vele as capable of playing any of the three receiver spots. During training camp, before Vele’s arrival, Moore mixed and matched who he chose to play from the slot. Sometimes, Moore went with Chris Olave, the team’s No. 1 receiver. On other occasions, he’d go with Brandin Cooks. In some instances, he’d forgo a wide receiver altogether and have tight end Juwan Johnson line up there.
But the coach has a history of deploying a bigger receiver from the slot, when he has the option. As the offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, Moore utilized Keenan Allen — still a full three inches shorter than Vele — as a go-to target from the slot, with 58% of his snaps coming from that area.
“It’s the same reason we talk about tight ends and being a quarterback’s best friend, there’s big guys, there’s catch radius, there’s a little bit of an ability to play with your body and box people out in contested catch situations,” Moore said. “Those guys show up in a little bit more in the middle of the field.”
As a rookie, Vele showed up when called upon. Of his 41 catches, 26 resulted in a first down — and 12 of those came on third or fourth down.
All three of his touchdowns were in the red zone. But interestingly, two of his scores came when he was lined up on the outside — including one ridiculous catch that saw the rookie secure the ball after three other players bobbled it.
“Coach Payton and a lot of the guys trusted in me, and when my opportunities came, I had to make sure I made the most of them,” Vele said.