Broncos Trade Devaughn Vele, Clearing Path for Troy Franklin’s Rise
The Denver Broncos just made a move that has the entire NFL talking. A trade has been finalized, sending wide receiver Devaughn Vele to the New Orleans Saints. In return, the Broncos received a 2026 fourth-round pick and a 2027 seventh-round pick. Now, that kind of deal might seem like a simple roster shuffle on the surface, but when you look closer, the decision tells us a whole lot about where Denver is heading—especially when it comes to Troy Franklin.
Vele, who was taken in the seventh round out of Utah just last year, actually put together a solid rookie season. He hauled in 41 catches for 475 yards and three touchdowns, numbers that actually outpaced Franklin, who was drafted in the fourth round from Oregon. Franklin finished his first year with 28 receptions for 263 yards and two scores. So when the news broke, many wondered why a receiver who had been more productive was the one shipped out. The answer became clear very quickly: the Broncos are all-in on Franklin’s growth.
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If you’ve been following training camp and preseason, you’ve probably noticed Franklin’s name popping up again and again. Just last week against the Arizona Cardinals, he grabbed four passes for 67 yards and found the end zone twice in Denver’s 27–7 win. Head coach Sean Payton didn’t hold back when asked about Franklin’s development, saying simply, “It’s happening, and I’m excited.” That’s about as direct as it gets.
Trading Vele signals that Denver believes Franklin is ready to take that next step—moving from promising rookie to central piece of the offense. And what makes this story even more interesting is the chemistry Franklin already has with quarterback Bo Nix. Both were drafted by the Broncos in 2024, and before that, they tore up defenses together at Oregon. In their final college season, Franklin caught 81 passes for nearly 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns, with Nix delivering the throws. That connection is now being rekindled in Denver, and the front office clearly wants to lean into it.
For the Saints, acquiring Vele adds a young and reliable option who has already shown flashes of consistency. But for Denver, this is about opening the runway for Franklin. The Broncos are betting on his upside, his chemistry with Nix, and his ability to become a breakout star in year two. With Payton’s endorsement and the franchise clearing a spot on the depth chart, the message could not be more clear—this is Troy Franklin’s time to shine.
So as the 2025 season unfolds, eyes will be on Denver to see if that gamble pays off. The pieces are in place, the confidence is there, and now the stage has been set. For Troy Franklin, the breakout everyone’s been waiting for is no longer just a possibility—it’s officially in motion.
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