Round 7 Pick 235, WR Devaughn Vele, Utah

[megalodon30]

Another WR. 6’4” 203

I like tall receivers.

Teammate of Elliss’ at Utah.

 

[nflbronco]

Pac 12 Broncos

 

[megalodon30]

Pac 12 Broncos

Does the PAC 12 exist anymore?

 

[Duffman]

Only pick I don’t really care for, we must not have liked the available O-line or LB options.

 

[SpringStein]

Only pick I don’t really care for, we must not have liked the available O-line or LB options.

Undrafted Free agent signings.

 

[nflbronco]

Does the PAC 12 exist anymore?

not now we took them all lol

 

[MileHigh64]

With the return of Tim Patrick and the Broncos drafting two wide receivers, it makes you wonder if they might consider trading Courtland Sutton for a high round pick next year.

 

[megalodon30]

 

[Mingo]

Both from Utah - right?

 

[Draft Crazy]

Only pick I don’t really care for, we must not have liked the available O-line or LB options.

It surprises me that so many people expected us to hit the OL hard in FA... We have our best OL we have had in a decade and we have young depth and a few swing FA signings. Not much room for an OL to make it here. We actually have depth at OL for a change.

 

[Draft Crazy]

As far as Vele goes. Not super exciting to me but I am good with it. His 40 time surprsied me as when I watched him at WR I didn't expect him to run well. I like how he turns and can locate the ball. Hands are reliable. Has some upside. However, he is older for a rookie which I don't care so much about in Round 7 but I do think 26 years old for a DB or WR is a bit different then other positions. I wouldn't be surprised if Lincon Victor and him are about the same thing and neck and neck on the depth chart going into final cuts.

 

[SpringStein]

dPO:
Faith became a verb, changing the trajectory of Devaughn Vele’s life.

Vele, the son of Afagaila and Efaraima, grew up as a gifted athlete, playing baseball, basketball, volleyball and running track. But he felt a gravitational pull from football. He developed into a star at Rancho Bernardo in San Diego, posting 980 yards and 11 touchdowns in his senior season.

Then his dreams became frozen. He received zero college offers. A shell-shocked Vele was left to consider his options when there were, well, no options.

“There were a lot of things going on in my life at that time. I was trying to figure out what I was going to do with my life especially when it came to football,” Vele told The Denver Post after Wednesday’s practice. “There was a lot of prayer. A lot of fasting.”

Wanting to connect deeper with this faith, Vele elected to go on a two-year mission for the LDS church. He served in his ancestral homeland of Samoa, learning the language, teaching and even baptizing a distant relative.

“It helped me find myself and mature as a person,” Vele said.

Watching Vele at Broncos training camp provides daily reminders of his life experience. He is a rookie in name only.

Remember that third-and-3 connection from Bo Nix to running back Jaleel McLaughlin in the third quarter against the Colts? Nix lofted a pass that hit McLaughlin in stride for a 22-yard gain. McLaughlin found space because Vele executed his lunch pail assignment. Lined up wide left, Vele shuffle stepped on the snap as the linebacker raced to take the angle in coverage on McLaughlin. Vele set a faux pick with his positioning, causing the linebacker to slip avoid it, leading to the easy completion.

He is a real student of the game,” teammate Courtland Sutton said. “And he is humble.”

Vele turns 27 in December. He is a year older than Broncos backup quarterback Zach Wilson and a year younger than Lamar Jackson, who is entering his seventh NFL season as a two-time MVP.

Vele cannot escape the clock ticking on his career. But he refuses to compromise quality and skip steps. Functioning as a team leader in his fifth year at Utah, Vele developed into a top target despite chaos at the quarterback position with Cameron Rising sidelined.

“He was a tireless worker. A great character kid,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. “There’s nothing not to like about him.”

When Vele returned from his mission, there was no interest from schools, only an opportunity to walk on at Utah. That status shaped the receiver he is today.

“I pride myself so much on the details. When I first got to Utah, I knew the thing that was going to separate me from guys on scholarship was being coachable. It is a very important thing so they can trust you,” Vele said. “So when they show how they want the route to be run, that’s how I am going to run it. Details are huge for me. I think that’s what has moved my career forward.”

The Broncos saw beyond Vele’s modest college stats, taking him in the seventh round. He has gone from invisible to viral this summer. Vele delivered a one-handed grab — easily the catch of camp — for a touchdown from Jarrett Stidham that offered shades of Odell Beckham Jr. with the New York Giants. It created a media buzz. Only Vele didn’t see it.

“I don’t have social media,” Vele said.

This fits in line with his process. He is all business. He doesn’t have time, you see, to savor one play when he has a team to make.

“It’s no secret that I am lot older. And that Father Time is undefeated. I don’t have the luxury of developing as a guy who will be better in a few years,” Vele said. “I know a lot of people had a lot of issues with it when I was first drafted. I feel like it happened this way for a reason. And I am trying to take advantage of this opportunity to be on the team, special teams or on the practice squad. Whatever they need.”

Coach Sean Payton has praised Vele’s ability to transition out of breaks and show daily improvement.

Talking to a former college coach who has watched many of the Broncos’ practices, he ranked Vele as the team’s third-best receiver when removing draft status and contracts. He sees what others praise. At 6-foot-4, Vele wins jump balls, shows no fear in traffic and runs routes worthy of Google Maps.

“Since he declared, I’ve known he was going to be a sleeper. I’ve watched him. I’ve seen his athleticism and everything he’s got,” said Broncos edge rusher Johan Elliss, one of six Utah players on Denver’s roster. “I’m really excited for what he’s going to do and everyone he’s going to prove wrong.”

It goes back to high school when Vele was facing the reality of a life without football. He believed in a dream that could not be seen.

“I trusted my faith,” Vele said. “I think I made the right decision.”

 

[Draft Crazy]

Love to see Vele shine A player I wasn't all that high on and a surprise to me to even be drafted. That is what makes him special in my heart.. Like Chris Harris. Was never high on him at Kansas and then he was great. (Not that he was drafted but I still had my opinion)

 

[listopencil]

From the game, #81:

 

[Mingo]

Love to see Vele shine A player I wasn't all that high on and a surprise to me to even be drafted. That is what makes him special in my heart.. Like Chris Harris. Was never high on him at Kansas and then he was great. (Not that he was drafted but I still had my opinion)

Vele may threaten Troy Franklin's status on the 53. The Broncos have some interesting roster choices to make.

 

[Draft Crazy]

I think Franklin will take a red shirt. Denver was really high on him coming out. Had a second round grade on him. Unlikely they were release him off the initial 53.

He will likely be one of the inactives on gameday though. Payton likes Sills and Lil J and he can move them on and off the PS easily like last year. With new PS rules it is way easier to store a guy like Frankin much like Skinner and Forsyth last year.

The interesting thing will be what we do with Patrick, B. Johnson.

Hopefully store Virgil on the PS.

 

[Mingo]

I think Franklin will take a red shirt. Denver was really high on him coming out. Had a second round grade on him. Unlikely they were release him off the initial 53.

He will likely be one of the inactives on gameday though. Payton likes Sills and Lil J and he can move them on and off the PS easily like last year. With new PS rules it is way easier to store a guy like Frankin much like Skinner and Forsyth last year.

The interesting thing will be what we do with Patrick, B. Johnson.

Hopefully store Virgil on the PS.

I agree - the Broncos will likely think Franklin is worth a longer look. Still, I think Patrick makes the team - Payton loves him.

 

[Mountain Bronco]

Both Surtain and Sutton were praising Velle when on moving the chains yesterday. He could be one of those late round gems.

 

[Mingo]

The Broncos have drafted and signed UDFA's that are a bit older than their draft class. The NFL has a scouting bias against "older" guys. So if older guys are undervalued - it is a good place to look for undervalued talent.

 

[Duffman]

I think Franklin will take a red shirt. Denver was really high on him coming out. Had a second round grade on him. Unlikely they were release him off the initial 53.

do they stash him on IR all season or just keep him around but never activate him?