Sean Payton, Devaughn Vele, and the Broncos' Wide Receiver Competition

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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton made headlines not for his team’s performance, but for his sharp response to a reporter's repeated question regarding wide receiver Devaughn Vele’s absence from mandatory minicamp. While Payton initially gave a brief but positive update—“He’s going to be full-go start of training camp. Everything is good”—he became visibly irritated when pressed again on the matter. “That’s it! That’s it! Did you hear me? That’s what, ‘That’s it’ means. It means it stops”. Vele, a second-year receiver out of Utah, has generated considerable buzz during offseason practices. After a rookie campaign where he posted nearly 500 yards and three touchdowns, local reporters and fans have noted his growing confidence and refined route-running. According to The Denver Post, “When you think, you stink, the saying goes in sports. And Vele’s mind has clearly slowed down at the start of Year 2”. Despite Payton’s assurance that “everything is good,” no specific reason has been given for Vele’s absence—leaving room for speculation. Whether it’s injury-related, personal, or otherwise, Payton’s dismissive tone suggests he sees the matter as resolved or insignificant. His terse response also reflects a larger philosophy: limit distractions and maintain a tight grip on public messaging, a hallmark of Payton’s coaching style. Beyond the incident, Vele’s absence underscores a larger narrative for the Broncos heading into the 2025 season: the competition for the WR2 role.

With Courtland Sutton’s long-term contract situation still unresolved, opportunities abound for emerging talents. Alongside Vele are rookie Pat Bryant, whom Payton praised for fitting “a certain kind of profile,” and sophomore Troy Franklin, who has added bulk and explosiveness during the offseason. “You’re seeing him play faster with a much greater awareness within each play,” Payton remarked about Franklin. As training camp approaches, the Broncos’ wide receiver depth chart will be one of the most closely watched storylines. With Sean Payton at the helm, media and fans can expect both fiery press conferences and fierce on-field competition.