During rookie minicamp earlier this offseason, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton described Devaughn Vele as a “big outside X” wide receiver who can also play in the slot.
After being picked by the Broncos in the seventh round of the draft, Vele will face an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster, but he has the size (6-4, 210 pounds) and talent to turn heads this summer.
“[T]here are certain players that we talk about that we know are high-traffic players,” Payton said in May. “Those are like forwards in basketball. They’re going to be in, and there are certain players that are going to be speed outside. So when we look at congested catches in traffic, yards after catch, there are certain types of players who are going to play in the game.
“He’s that player that’s proven at the college level [that] he’s comfortable inside these numbers. Not to say he can’t play outside the numbers. We like to say a good comp, but there are some traits you see from him that I think Tim Patrick has. When you look at their size and where they can align — and I’m just talking about traits. He has good instincts, and he has really, really good ball skills. In these two practices, he’s looked better than I even thought for a guy his height.”
Vele, much like Patrick, has a knack for making contested catches in traffic.
“It’s just a lot of practice, a lot of repetition and a lot of extra work,” Vele said when asked about winning jump ball situations. “Putting in that extra work can help you get comfortable in game situations.”
Competing in a crowded wide receiver room, Vele will have to stand out to make the active roster in 2024. If he doesn’t end up making the final 53, the rookie will undoubtedly be a top candidate for the practice squad.
