Devaughn Vele Delivers Breakout Performance in Saints’ Narrow Loss to Dolphins
It took some time, but the Saints may have finally unlocked something special in Devaughn Vele.
In Sunday’s 21-17 loss to the Dolphins, the 27-year-old wide receiver turned in a performance that not only stood out on the stat sheet but also validated the Saints’ belief in his potential. Vele caught all eight of his targets for 93 yards and a touchdown - and that level of efficiency puts him in elite company this season.
Only two other wideouts have pulled off the feat of eight-plus targets with a 100% catch rate: George Pickens (9 for 9, 146 yards) and Rashee Rice (9 for 9, 93 yards). Now, Vele joins that short list.
And he didn’t stop there. After hauling in a clutch touchdown late in the fourth quarter to bring New Orleans within striking distance, Vele followed it up by recovering the onside kick - a rare one-two punch of offensive and special teams impact that nearly gave the Saints a shot at stealing the win.
A Bigger Role, A Bigger Impact
So, what changed?
Well, for starters, Vele is finally getting the reps. After the Saints traded Rashid Shaheed and released veteran Brandin Cooks, Vele stepped into the starting “Z” receiver role and hasn’t looked back. Over the past month, he’s led all Saints skill players in offensive snaps - and on Sunday, that trust paid off.
“Obviously, his role has increased as we’ve made a few transactions,” head coach Kellen Moore said.
It’s not just the volume of snaps, though. It’s how Vele is using them.
Against Miami, he showed exactly why the Saints were willing to part with a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-rounder to bring him in from Denver back in August. At 6-foot-5, Vele brings a physical presence the Saints have been missing on the outside.
His touchdown catch was a textbook example - boxing out Dolphins corner Jack Jones and securing a high pass in the back of the end zone with authority.
Reading the Field Like a Vet
Moore pointed to Miami’s defensive scheme - a heavy dose of Cover 2 - as a factor in Vele’s breakout. That coverage opens up space on the boundary for in-breaking routes, the kind Shaheed used to feast on. On Sunday, it was Vele’s turn to take advantage.
But it wasn’t just about the matchup. According to quarterback Tyler Shough, Vele’s football IQ is what really sets him apart.
“He's super smart,” Shough said. “He has a great feel with his routes.
I think he does a really good job. I was really proud of Devaughn just because I think he's such a key player for us.”
Moore echoed that sentiment, noting Vele’s understanding of how each route fits into the bigger picture. The former seventh-round pick doesn’t just run his assignment - he processes the coverage, clears space when needed, and knows where the soft spots are going to be. Moore said he saw flashes of that on Vele’s Denver film, but it wasn’t until coaching him firsthand that he truly appreciated the nuance in his game.
A Glimpse of What Denver Lost
Vele’s ability to move the chains was already evident during his rookie season with the Broncos. Of his 41 receptions, 25 went for first downs - and he was money on third down, converting 11 of 12 targets. He also scored three red-zone touchdowns, making him a reliable option when the field shrinks.
It’s no wonder Broncos head coach Sean Payton had a hard time letting him go. Payton even admitted that trading Vele was one of the toughest decisions of his career, comparing it to the regret he felt after moving Darren Sproles during his time in New Orleans.
For most of the season, though, it was fair to wonder if that praise was more about optics than substance. Through his first 10 games in New Orleans, Vele had just nine catches for 91 yards and a single touchdown - hardly the kind of production that justifies giving up two draft picks.
But in the second half against Miami, Vele flipped that narrative. Every one of his catches came after halftime, and it wasn’t just his best game as a Saint - it was the best game of his young NFL career.
No Time to Celebrate
Still, Vele wasn’t basking in the spotlight after the game. His focus remained on the bigger picture: winning.
“I bring this up a lot, I’m a very competitive guy and at the end of the day I want to win games,” Vele said. “I’m grateful I had a career day for myself, but at the end of the day, I want to win games.”
That mindset - paired with his size, smarts, and now a breakout performance to build on - could make Vele a key piece for New Orleans down the stretch. If Sunday was a preview of what’s to come, the Saints may have found a late-season spark in a player they’ve quietly been grooming for a bigger role all along.