The New Orleans Saints have acquired wide receiver Devaughn Vele from the Denver Broncos in exchange for future draft picks, adding size to their receiving corps just before the regular season.
Devaughn Vele is a 6-foot-5 wide receiver who was selected by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft from the University of Utah. In his rookie season, he appeared in 13 games, starting seven, and accumulated 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns, ranking third among Denver’s receivers.
The Saints sent a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and a seventh-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft to the Broncos to acquire Vele. This trade is a standard NFL transaction involving player movement for draft capital, common during the preseason roster adjustments.
The trade was reported and confirmed on August 20-21, 2025, with news articles published within the last 24 hours, placing it just before the start of the 2025 NFL regular season.
This transaction occurs within the National Football League, specifically between the New Orleans Saints and the Denver Broncos, impacting both teams’ rosters and strategic planning for the upcoming season.
The Saints pursued this trade to bolster their receiver group, which lacks size, especially with a quarterback competition between rookie Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler, needing a tall target like Vele. The Broncos, with a deep receiver corps including Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and Troy Franklin, found Vele surplus to requirements and opted to acquire draft assets for future team building.
The deal was negotiated by the teams’ front offices, with reports from credible sources such as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirming the details. It follows standard NFL trade protocols and was approved by the league.
The impact of this trade is that the Saints gain a physical receiver who can contribute immediately, particularly in red-zone situations, while the Broncos receive additional draft picks that provide flexibility for future seasons. It also streamlines the Broncos’ receiver depth chart and addresses the Saints’ need for offensive weapons.
Looking ahead, both teams will integrate these changes into their preparations for Week 1 of the NFL season. The Saints will work Vele into their offensive schemes, and the Broncos will focus on their existing receiver group and utilize the draft picks in upcoming years. This trade sets the stage for both teams’ approaches as they enter the 2025 season.