Saints finally get Devaughn Vele breakout game they have been waiting for
The Saints finally get the Devaughn Vele game they’ve been waiting for, originally published on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as your preferred source by clicking here.
The New Orleans Saints finally saw the version of Devaughn Vele they thought they were acquiring when they traded for him earlier this season. The 6-foot-5 forward turned in the most complete performance of his young career on Sunday, catching all eight of his targets for 93 yards and a crucial touchdown in a 21-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins. It wasn’t just a breakout, it was the Saints’ clearest glimpse yet of a much-needed No. 2 option behind Chris Olave.
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Vele earned an 86.5 grade from Pro Football Focus, the highest grade on the team, and became the first Saints receiver since Michael Thomas in 2020 to post a 100% catch rate on at least seven targets. He also recovered an onside kick, capping one of the most versatile and productive outings of his NFL career.
A growing share and a growing role
This push didn’t come out of nowhere. With Rashid Shaheed traded and Brandin Cooks fired, Vele stepped into the 2 wide receiver role and responded immediately. After recording just six catches in his first nine appearances, he now has 11 receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown over his last two games, playing nearly 90 percent of the offensive snaps.
New Orleans’ passing attack isn’t prolific, but opportunities count and Vele is finally getting it. Two weeks ago, he set a season record with seven goals. On Sunday, he matched that volume and converted every opportunity he received. His timing with quarterback Tyler Shough is increasing and his frame gives the Saints something they haven’t had since Thomas left: a big receiver who can handle volume without sacrificing efficiency.
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The Denver Broncos never wanted to lose him
Before arriving in New Orleans, Vele spent his rookie season with the Denver Broncos after being selected in the seventh round out of Utah. He caught 50 passes for 566 yards and three touchdowns, a strong start that made it difficult for Denver to part with.
And Broncos head coach Sean Payton made no secret of how much the organization valued him when the trade with New Orleans fell through.
“[He has] “All the things we look for: discipline, structure, intelligence, toughness, talent,” Payton said in August. “That’s why this one was tough. … He was fantastic when we visited him. He’s going to be a really good player for them. They’re the toughest and actually I could only find two that were like that. Darren Sproles was a really tough decision, and I regretted it later, but most of the time it’s easier. We wish him luck.
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This level of praise helps explain why the Saints viewed Vele as more than just a depth sensor. They saw untapped potential. Now it’s starting to come to fruition.
How Vele elevates Saints’ offense
Inside the Saints facilities, Vele is not considered a short-term hot hand. He’s seen as a structural fit, someone who helps clean up spacing, creates leverage advantages, and complements Olave’s skill set instead of duplicating them. That’s why Saints head coach Kellen Moore has been vocal about what Vele brings beyond the numbers.
“I think one of the interesting things about [Vele] is his understanding of how he puts the whole puzzle together. When is it complementary? When is he creating traffic for another guy? Or it uses this route to open another receiver on a particular route. I think his overall perspective, the best receivers, it seems to be the guys. You need a few of these guys on your team.
If this is the start of his full emergence, the Saints may have finally found the physical receiver they’ve been missing for years.
