The Denver Broncos have a good problem in great receiver depth, but will Devaughn Vele make the cut?
It’s still a few weeks from when the Broncos and all NFL teams have to cut their roster down to 53 players, but the middle of the preseason is when those roster decisions are made.
When the Broncos face the Packers this Sunday night, the entire team will be evaluated, including camp darling Devaughn Vele.
Are there enough roster spots for Devaughn Vele to make the Broncos?
Every year in training camp, there’s a camp standout who comes out of seemingly nowhere. This year, it’s rookie receiver Devaughn Vele with tremendous catches in nearly every practice.
OKAY, ROOK!
Devaughn Vele with an unbelievable catch at #BroncosCamp 🤯 pic.twitter.com/PJ0NdMcM3M
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) August 8, 2024
Vele was an afterthought the weekend of the NFL Draft, as he was the team’s 7th-round pick. After all, Denver took Bo Nix’s former college teammate Troy Franklin in the 4th round.
And before the draft, Sean Payton overhauled the Broncos receiver room, trading away Jerry Jeudy and replacing him with Josh Reynolds.
Plus, Tim Patrick has returned from back-to-back years of injuries ready to go. That leaves little room for Devaughn Vele to make the roster.
Courtland Sutton is No. 1, Reynolds is 2, and speedster Marvin Mims is No. 3 or 4, with Patrick in the top 4, too. Then, there’s Franklin, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Brandon Johnson, Jalen Virgil, Phillip Dorsett, Michael Brandy, David Sills, and Vele.
Payton said himself this week the Broncos receiver depth is so good, he thinks some players will end up on another team.
“Yesterday we spent a lot of time on personnel,” Payton said. “Sometimes the nod is kicking-game related, sometimes the nod might be experience. There’s a lot that goes into it. I agree with your first statement, more than I can recall anywhere the depth and competition at that position group. I think we potentially have guys that may end up playing for another team. It’s still early in the process; it’s a real good question, and it’s the reality of this camp right now. These guys are working hard, and it’s a good problem to have.”
It’s a good problem for the team, but maybe not for Vele.
Last year, Payton’s Broncos kept a mere four receivers on the 53-man roster, with three–Humphrey, Sills, and Brandy–on the initial practice squad.
With the top four receivers basically cemented, that leaves eight guys competing for possibly one more roster spot, or maybe just a handful of practice squad spots.
Payton hinted at how he’ll fill his roster, too. Being able to return kicks, which Virgil did in college, could be a separator for him to make the active roster. That leaves Vele’s position even more in doubt.
The case for keeping Vele on the roster
So, can Devaughn Vele make the 53-man roster?
Yes, and here’s why.
He’s impressed coaching staff, fellow players, and fans in attendance at training camp for the last few weeks.
As Payton explained earlier this month, “I like his size and hands in traffic…There are a few players like him out here, but I think he can take reps inside and then I think he can also play at the ‘X’…he has a large catch radius, so you become a more accurate quarterback.”
He can play the No. 1 spot at “X,” backing up Courtland Sutton as a big-bodied beast of a receiver. Or, Payton could move him in the slot, as he explained above. Versatility will certainly help Vele make the roster.
At 26 years of age, he’s much older than a typical rookie. That’s a positive because he’s further along mentally, and ready to contribute on the field.
“He’s smart,” Payton said on Thursday. “He’s a little older. I would say, you don’t necessarily feel [like he is] a rookie and I say that just respectfully…He put some good tape out there and continues to improve.”
Finally, his 6’4” size will help Devaughn Vele make the active roster, too. Denver is packed with tall receivers, and Vele is another in a long line of them for Payton’s offense. It’s clear the head coach has a type of receiver he likes, and the rookie fits the mold.
Denver and Green Bay held a joint practice today to end the Broncos training camp, and the two teams play one another on Sunday night at 6 pm MDT. Vele had one catch for eight yards in the first preseason game, and gained a first down on a pass interference, too. Look for him to continue to make a case for himself as the preseason pushes on.