Devaughn Vele: Draft pick| Fantasy| Stats| Wiki

1. Early Life & College Journey

Devaughn Vele was born on December 12, 1997, and raised in San Diego, California. A walk-on at the University of Utah in 2019, he redshirted and gradually earned a scholarship by 2020. Over his Utah career (2019–2023), he played in 47 games with 28 starts, tallying 123 receptions, 1,689 yards (13.7 avg.), and 9 receiving touchdowns.

Growth & Highlight Seasons

• 2021: Breakout season with 23 receptions, 389 yards, and a touchdown.

• 2022: Earned Pac-12 honorable mention; led Utah in receptions (55) and receiving yards (695) with 5 TDs.

• 2023: Final collegiate year featured 43 catches, 593 yards, and 3 receiving touchdowns in just 10 games (9 starts).

In college, Vele showcased impressive speed and agility, recording a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, broad jump around 10 feet 6 inches, and a vertical leap of 36 inches during combine/pro day evaluations

2. 2024 NFL Draft & Draft Pick Profile

Devaughn Vele entered the 2024 NFL Draft and was selected by the Denver Broncos in the 7th round, 235th overall WikipediaDenver Broncos.

Measurables at Draft:

• Height: 6′4″ to 6′5″

• Weight: ~210 lbs

• Arms: 33½″

• Hands: 9¾″.

The Broncos valued his physical traits and collegiate production despite being a late-round pick, recognizing a project with size and athletic upside.

3. Rookie Season: Stats & On-Field Impact

In the 2024 NFL season, Vele made a solid impression as a rookie:

• 41 receptions

• 475 receiving yards

• 3 receiving touchdowns over 13 games (7 starts).

He debuted with 8 receptions for 39 yards in Week 1 against Seattle, and scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 10 versus Kansas City. Per Pro Football Focus, his overall rookie receiving grade ranked him 44th among WRs, and he was 76th of 98 in receiving yards.

Advanced Metrics & Efficiency

PlayerProfiler.com provides deeper insight:

• Targets: 55

• Target share: ~13%

• Air yards: 461

• Average depth of target (ADOT): ~8.4 yards

• Fantasy points per game: 8.2 (Non-PPR)

• Efficiency rankings (YPR, YPRR, EPA per target): among top tiers.

FantasyData adds his non-PPR fantasy total: ~106.5 points for the 2024 season FantasyData.

4. Fantasy Football Outlook

2024 Performance Recap

• Season totals: 41 catches, 475 yards, 3 TDs – 106.5 fantasy points.

• Game log highlights:

  • Week 1 (SEA): 8 catches, 39 yards (11.9 FP)

  • Week 6 (LAC): 4-catch, 78-yard game (11.8 FP)

  • Week 12 (LV): 6-catch, 80 yards (14.0 FP)

  • Week 18 (KC): 4 catches, 50 yards, TD (15.0 FP).

2025 Outlook in New Orleans

On August 20–21, 2025, the New Orleans Saints acquired Vele from Denver in exchange for a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick. As the Saints’ receiving corps features Chris Olave, Brandin Cooks, and Rashid Shaheed, Vele adds size, contested-catch ability, and third-down reliability—traits often desired in fantasy WR3 or flex options. Even at nearly 28, he profiles as a strong depth piece with a growing role potential.

Fantasy platforms like FantasyFootballCalculator project modest Week 3 outlooks for Vele—e.g., ~2.46 receptions, ~23.7 yards, ~0.12 TDs—but these are fluid as offensive roles evolve.

5. Wiki Profile: Personal & Background Insights

• Early years: Walk-on at Utah in 2019; scholarship awarded by 2020.

• Heritage: Of Samoan descent; personal background includes being raised by a single mother and adopted later by his father Efaraima.

• Personal life: Married to Tymane Vele; member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; served a mission in Samoa.

6. Summary Table: Quick Profile