Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Devaughn Vele is quickly emerging as one of quarterback Bo Nix’s favorite targets, hauling in 14 receptions for 185 yards and one touchdown over the last three weeks.
Following Vele’s six-catch, 80-yard performance in a 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Broncos coach Sean Payton was full of praise for the rookie during his Monday conference call with reporters.
“The progress with Vele is — sometimes as a coach, you feel like you’re stopping the progress by not getting them touches,” Payton told reporters. “I don’t want to say we’re guilty as coaches, but often times afraid to play the rookies. Very quickly we’ve seen his growth. So he’s been really good. The strengths for him certainly are his hands. You guys saw it in camp. He has strong hands in traffic. He’s a guy that plays well over the middle. He reminds me a lot of 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 towards the end of the season and not knowing about some of these rookies.”
Vele was picked by the Broncos in the seventh round of this year’s NFL draft out of Utah. He has hauled in 32 receptions for 361 yards and 18 first downs through eight games this fall. Colston was picked by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL draft out of Hofstra. He ranks first in New Orleans history for receptions (711), receiving yards (9,759) and touchdowns (72).
Getting that kind of praise from Payton is notable, and Vele’s role will likely continue to grow in the final five games of the season.
