The New Orleans Saints added to their receiver room ahead of the regular-season opener Wednesday, acquiring Devaughn Vele in a trade with the Denver Broncos, the teams announced.
In return, Denver received a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round selection.
The versatile Vele was a seventh-round pick of the Broncos in the 2024 NFL draft out of Utah. The 27-year-old appeared in 13 games (seven starts) and had 41 receptions for 475 yards -- both third on the team among its receivers -- and three touchdowns.
The 6-foot-5 Vele will provide a big target to a New Orleans team that's yet to pick its Week 1 starter at quarterback, with rookie Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler competing for the job throughout training camp.
Denver had some depth in the receiver spot, with Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. and Troy Franklin leading the group and Pat Bryant a third-round pick in April's draft. Nevertheless, offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi had praised Vele earlier Wednesday, just hours before the trade was announced.
"He's got a lot of versatility," Lombardi told reporters at training camp. "He's big, he can run, good route-runner. And, so, he's a guy that you can plug in a lot of spots."
