Kellen Moore Admits One of His Biggest Mistakes Involving DeVaughn Vele!
Kellen Moore’s first season as head coach of the New Orleans Saints had its share of challenges, but the team’s strong finish created plenty of excitement heading into 2026. After a difficult start, the Saints closed the year with a 5-4 stretch that helped build confidence around the direction of the franchise. While many point to Tyler Shough’s emergence at quarterback as the turning point, Moore recently revealed that one of his biggest regrets from last season had nothing to do with the quarterback position. Instead, he believes wide receiver DeVaughn Vele should have been more involved in the offense much earlier. Moore admitted that, looking back, he wishes he had found ways to get Vele into a larger role sooner, especially considering the impact the receiver eventually made late in the year.
The lack of opportunities for Vele during the first half of the season was surprising to many Saints fans. After the organization invested valuable assets to acquire him, expectations were higher than the production he initially received. Vele finished the season with 25 receptions for 293 yards and two touchdowns across 13 games, but those numbers fail to tell the full story. Nineteen of those catches, along with 239 receiving yards and a touchdown, came during the final four games of the season. More importantly, Vele consistently delivered in key situations, making clutch receptions on third down and establishing himself as a dependable target when the offense needed a play. His chemistry with Tyler Shough became increasingly evident as the season progressed, giving the Saints another weapon in the passing attack.
Looking ahead to 2026, Vele appears poised for a much larger role within the offense. Even with first-round rookie Jordyn Tyson joining a talented receiver room that already features Chris Olave, Vele has the skill set to carve out significant opportunities. His size, physicality, and reliability make him a valuable complement to the Saints’ other playmakers. For that to happen, however, Moore will need to avoid repeating a mistake from last season, when the offense often focused heavily on only a couple of receiving options. If New Orleans can spread the ball around more effectively and continue building the trust between Shough and Vele, the receiver could be on track for the best season of his career, potentially establishing himself as one of the offense’s most important contributors behind Olave and Tyson.
Story by Adrian Heart of Gaming
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