In a season where the Denver Broncos faced significant roster constraints, a surprising savior has emerged: their 2024 rookie class. Leading the charge is an unlikely hero – 27-year-old seventh-round pick Devaughn Vele, whose breakout performance at wide receiver is propelling the Broncos toward their first playoff berth since 2015.
The Catch That Changed Everything
It was a simple training camp drill in early August that first opened eyes to Vele’s potential. In a red zone session, the 6’5″ receiver soared to snag a one-handed touchdown in the back corner of the end zone, a play that immediately earned the respect of his teammates. As running back Javonte Williams put it, “That one got everybody’s attention.”
From Afterthought to Offensive Centerpiece
Since that moment, Vele has been a mainstay in the Broncos’ attack. His 33 catches for 377 yards both rank second on the team, an impressive feat for the 235th overall pick in the draft. Quarterback Bo Nix, Denver’s first-round selection, has leaned heavily on his rookie receiver, with Vele turning a stellar 71.7% of his targets into receptions.
“[Vele] has good length…but he’s able to move and change direction, get in and out of breaks. Strong hands.”
– Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi
An Unconventional Path to NFL Success
Vele’s age and atypical football journey likely contributed to his draft day slide. After a two-year Mormon mission and a redshirt season, he didn’t see full-time college action until age 23. But those years of perseverance have forged a rookie with veteran savvy, one his teammates liken to a “rookie vet”.
The Marques Colston Comparison
Broncos head coach Sean Payton sees shades of another dominant seventh-round receiver in Vele’s game: Marques Colston, the Saints legend who topped 1,000 yards receiving six times under Payton’s tutelage. It’s high praise for the rookie, reflecting just how critical he’s become to Denver’s offensive success.
A Rookie Class Defying the Odds
Vele is simply the most prominent example of a Broncos rookie class thriving amidst challenging circumstances. With limited salary cap space and only one top-75 pick, Denver needed its 2024 draftees to contribute immediately. And they’ve delivered in spades:
- Bo Nix – In his first year, the QB has tossed 20 TDs (10th in the NFL)
- Jonah Elliss – The third-rounder’s five sacks help power a league-leading pass rush
- Troy Franklin – After a slow start, the WR’s snap count is surging as he proves reliable in the slot
- Kris Abrams-Draine – The fifth-round corner is carving out a key sub package role
- Audric Estime – His 4.7 ypc average hints at feature back potential
For a coach known for leaning on veteran rosters, Payton is suddenly relying on one of the NFL’s youngest cores. It’s a transition born of necessity, but if Vele and his fellow rookies maintain this trajectory, Denver’s short-term bandage may transform into their long-term foundation.
One Game From Ending the Drought
The Broncos now sit at 9-5, with a chance to clinch their playoff spot on Thursday night against the rival Chargers. It’s a stunning turnaround for a franchise left in salary cap purgatory after the Russell Wilson debacle, and a testament to a scouting department that found difference-makers up and down the 2024 NFL draft.
No story better encapsulates this youth movement than that of Devaughn Vele. In a league where the learning curve for wide receivers keeps getting steeper, the unheralded 27-year-old is putting his unique journey to use, outplaying his draft slot by orders of magnitude. As Vele himself said:
“At first, you’re just trying to get acclimated, learn, make the roster, be a pro. But once the season starts, you want to be a part of helping us win games and score touchdowns.”
– Devaughn Vele
If the Broncos’ dream becomes reality on Thursday, it will be due in no small part to Vele and his fellow rookies heeding that mission. In the process, they’ve reshaped the NFL playoff picture and rewritten the narrative on what’s possible when the right pieces fall into place, even if those pieces don’t quite fit the conventional mold.
