From “Not in the Long-Term Plans” to Perfect 100% Catch Rate on 7+ Targets – Saints’ Young WR Is Forcing New Orleans to Rewrite the Future
New Orleans, Louisiana – December 3, 2025
In the middle of a turbulent season for the New Orleans Saints, a player once considered an afterthought is quietly rewriting his story. Devaughn Vele, who not long ago was viewed as “no longer part of the long-term plans,” just delivered one of the most impressive breakout performances of Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins — a game that vaulted him into the Saints’ record books.
According to Ross Jackson, Vele became the first Saints WR to post a 100% catch rate on 7+ targets since Michael Thomas in 2020. It’s a number that speaks not only to precision, but to the growing trust head coach Kellen Moore has placed in him — trust that Vele is now repaying in full.
What a throw by Shough 🎯
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 30, 2025
What a catch by Vele 🙌
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/yS9bPOvCmU
His emergence also comes at a critical time. After the Saints traded away Rashid Shaheed at the deadline, Vele was handed a larger role. Moore made it clear immediately that his workload would increase, and now everyone can see why.
With his big frame, willingness to absorb contact, and ability to win space in the red zone, Vele brings exactly the type of receiver the Saints have lacked all season. His chemistry with quarterback Tyler Shough is developing faster than expected, forming a connection that already shows real promise for the future.
After the game, head coach Kellen Moore offered a pointed, emotional reflection — not flashy, but powerful:
“What impresses me isn’t just that he caught every single ball thrown his way; it’s how he’s making the whole team believe they can count on him in the biggest moments. sometimes you see a player start to understand exactly where he belongs in this league. and if he keeps this kind of performance, we might be watching the rise of a true cornerstone.”
Vele may never become Michael Thomas — and no one is asking him to. But the Saints desperately need a big-bodied, sure-handed, dependable receiver who can be trusted when the pressure turns suffocating.
And if Week 13 is only the beginning, Devaughn Vele is showing that he’s not just fighting for a roster spot —
he’s proving he belongs in the NFL.













