After using a seventh-round draft pick to select Utah wide receiver Devaughn Vele last year, the Denver Broncos ' general manager has traded the 27-year-old wide receiver to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for fourth- (2026) and seventh-round (2027) draft picks.

Given a day to process the Devaughn Vele trade move and prepare his remarks, Broncos coach Sean Payton explained the combination of interest in Vele and a need to narrow down the receiver room led to the deal.

Sean Payton has traded dozens of players in decades of coaching. He said trading Devaughn Vele to the Saints was as tough as trading Darren Sproles: