After using a seventh-round draft pick to select Utah wide receiver Devaughn Vele last year, the Denver Broncos ' general manager has traded the 27-year-old wide receiver to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for fourth- (2026) and seventh-round (2027) draft picks.

Given a day to process the Devaughn Vele trade move and prepare his remarks, Broncos coach Sean Payton explained the combination of interest in Vele and a need to narrow down the receiver room led to the deal.

Earlier this week, the Denver Broncos traded wide receiver Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints, but from the sounds of it, the Jacksonville Jaguars were also interested. As Broncos head coach Sean Payton recalled, Denver wasn’t actively shopping Vele. However, they received calls from three teams, two of which were “serious,” as Payton put it.