Broncos' Sean Payton is comparing seventh-round rookie Devaughn Vele to one of the most underrated WRs ever
The Denver Broncos are the New Orleans Saints West, as they call it, and, that's not a bad thing. When you have a team that was successful for so long, even though they only had one Super Bowl ring, it's not bad that Sean Payton has brought over so many people from his former team. […]
The Denver Broncos are the New Orleans Saints West, as they call it, and, that's not a bad thing. When you have a team that was successful for so long, even though they only had one Super Bowl ring, it's not bad that Sean Payton has brought over so many people from his former team. Whether that be coaches or players, he knows what he is doing, and he had a lot of success in New Orleans.
And, sure, he makes the occasional comparison to someone who once played or coached in New Orleans, but that's because that's all he knew before coaching the Broncos. His most recent comparison is one that Broncos fans should actually be happy about.
Devaughn Vele, a rookie wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, has quickly become a notable figure in the team's lineup during the 2024 NFL season. Vele's journey to the NFL is as compelling as it is unique. Vele walked on at the University of Utah in 2019, a testament to his work ethic and determination. At Utah, he redshirted his first year, but by 2021, he had earned a scholarship and began to make significant contributions to the team. His college career peaked in his final season in 2023 when he led the Utah Utes in receiving, showcasing his ability to be a reliable target with 43 catches for 593 yards and three touchdowns.
Drafted in the seventh round by the Broncos in this last draft, with the 235th overall pick, Vele's age – approaching 27 in December – might have been a factor in his late selection, but it also meant he brought a level of maturity, and experience uncommon for a rookie. This was evident from his first moments with the Broncos. In training camp, Vele turned heads, particularly with a one-handed catch that became one of the highlights of the summer, drawing comparisons to some of the NFL's most acrobatic receivers.
His NFL debut was marked by leading the team in receptions, catching all eight of his targets for 39 yards against the Seattle Seahawks, despite not finding the end zone. Throughout the season, Vele has demonstrated his value not just as a receiver but as a reliable target for quarterback Bo Nix, often becoming his security blanket in crucial situations. Coach Sean Payton has praised Vele for his strong hands and ability to make contested catches, likening him to a former player who may be considered one of the most underrated of all time.
“Vele’s doing good. I feel like I’m talking about the same player. The progress with Vele is—sometimes as a coach, you feel like you’re stopping the progress by not getting them touches. I don’t want to say we’re guilty as coaches, but we are often times afraid to play the rookies. Very quickly we’ve seen his growth. So he’s been really good," Sean Payton said on Monday.
"He reminds me a lot of [former Saints WR] Marques Colston, who I had in New Orleans for 10 or 11 years. In our staff meeting 20 minutes ago, I said, ‘We have to continue to find touches for him.’ You have a big target—I mentioned this to you guys—he’s 6’4”, but he has a short inseam. He’s someone who can get in and out of cuts. I’m glad we’re not getting to the end of the season and do not know about some of these rookies.”
As the season progresses, Vele's role seems to be expanding, with expectations that he could play a pivotal part in the team's playoff push, showcasing that where you were drafted doesn't always mean anything. If you put the work in the results will come. And that's the same thing that happened to Colston, who was also a seventh-round pick.
Colston is one of the most underrated players of all time. With no All-Pros or Pro Bowls, he still managed to finish his 10-year career, all with the Saints, with nearly 10 thousand receiving yards. He had six seasons with at least 1,000 yards, and two seasons with at least 900 receiving yards. Not to mention, in the other two seasons, he dealt with injuries.
If that's the kind of player Payton sees in Vele, that's perfect for what the Broncos and Bo Nix need. And that's quite the compliment as well.
The Broncos are one of the hottest teams on offense the last few weeks. They dominated the Atlanta Falcons and really were in control the whole time against the Las Vegas Raiders. With a game against the Cleveland Browns next, the Broncos should be in good shape.
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is about to help one receiver make a ton of money in the next few weeks
He could use the help, too.
