The Denver Broncos have made a trade just days before their third and final preseason game against the New Orleans Saints. Ironically enough, the Broncos trade was with the Saints, sending second-year wide receiver Devaughn Vele to New Orleans.
Denver Broncos trade WR Devaughn Vele to New Orleans Saints
With the emergence of rookie wide receiver Pat Bryant and the notable leap from second-year wide receiver Troy Franklin, the Denver Broncos have traded away Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints, ahead of Saturday’s matchup against them.
The Broncos will receive a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for Vele heading over to New Orleans.
This move really boils down to how pleased Sean Payton has been with the sudden impact of Bryant, Franklin’s big leap forward, and Trent Sherfield Sr. becoming a more consistent contributor in the wide receiver rotation. Vele had missed some time in mandatory minicamp and some time in training camp with an injury that had been bothering him, but he’s also had some good days of practice.
Yesterday, Payton touched on the process of how potential trades could occur before the preseason ends and the level of detail the team spends on fielding calls.
“I think the easy part is the fielding calls because if they come, then you sit and discuss what call came,” Payton said. “What happens a lot is the call that comes that’s very open-ended. ‘What are you guys looking for? What are we looking for?’ You know that there’s a target in their mind. I like the decisions we have to make, be it they’re tough ones. The process is still ongoing.”
One of those tough decisions was Vele, who was an impact player for Payton as a rookie last season, hauling in 41 catches on 55 targets for 475 yards and three touchdowns. 26 of his 41 catches were chain movers for a first down, which signaled the type of impact he had with his size.
If Franklin or Bryant hadn’t had as strong of an offseason or camp as they have, it’s likely Vele would have made Denver’s 53-man roster, but when it comes to the numbers game for formulating it, Payton’s decision indicates a clear level of trust in what that room looks like right now with Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims, Franklin, Bryant, and Sherfield Sr.
