Instant analysis of Denver Broncos drafting WR Devaughn Vele in round 7

Travis Wakeman

Instant analysis of Denver Broncos drafting WR Devaughn Vele in round 7 image

The Denver Broncos have drafted their second wide receiver on Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft, taking Utah's Devaughn Vele in the seventh round. If there was a position for the Broncos to double-dip on in this draft, it was probably wide receiver. 

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The Broncos traded up to get Oregon's Troy Franklin to begin the fourth round and now have added another pass-catcher from the Pac-12 Conference. 

Vele caught 98 passes and scored eight touchdowns in the past eight seasons but aside from having great size at 6-foot-4, he is not going to blow anyone away with his physical ability. He can play inside as a big slot wide receiver, which may be his most intriguing potential spot, but he will also be a 26-year-old rookie this season, so he could have a short shelf life. 

 

Late-round picks are for shots in the dark so this could turn into something, but he'll have to start from the last rung on the ladder. 

Grade: B

Travis Wakeman

Travis Wakeman Photo

Travis Wakeman has been covering the NFL since 2012 when he started with Bleacher Report. After reporting about the Broncos there until 2016, he joined the FanSided network as a site expert covering the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers while simultaneously covering the Broncos at Broncos Wire when that site launched. He then took over the Broncos site at FanSided in March 2020 and covered the team there until spring of 2024. A lifelong Broncos fan and fan of the game, Travis is filled with sometimes useless NFL knowledge, but it always serves him well in any trivia contest. You can follow him on Twitter/X @traviswakeman10.