Pat Bryant ready to seize opportunity with the Denver Broncos

After an impressive collegiate career at Illinois, third-round pick Pat Bryant is ready to showcase his talents in the National Football League with the Denver Broncos.

When Pat Bryant got the call from the Denver Broncos during the 2025 NFL Draft, it was a life-changing moment for the Illinois prospect. After a lifetime of dedication honing his craft and a successful four-year career, Bryant was thrilled he was going to be able to showcase his abilities in the National Football League.

“They know all my attributes. They know what I can do, they know all my attributes. They know what I could do on the field. My main focus is to just get to Denver, do my job, and help the team win,” Bryant stated in his draft conference call.

It’s nice to see that sort of confidence in a rookie. It’s often the mental toughness that separates the good from the great players. Those with a can-do attitude that are ready to take the proverbial bull by the horns usually end up panning out better than those that don’t. By all accounts, the former Illini standout has the intangibles to make it in the pros.

At 6’2” and 204 pounds, he fit the profile of what Head Coach Sean Payton covets at the position. During the Broncos’ Day 2 draft press conference, Payton had drawn parallels to Michael Thomas, with respect to his size, competitive nature, and physicality. He went on to mention that Jim Leonhard, the team’s Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Passing Game Coordinator, offered tremendous insight on his mental toughness and football character throughout the pre-draft process.

The aforementioned is lofty praise for a rookie, but it speaks volumes about how the Broncos viewed him during the pre-draft process. Bryant was an afterthought and flew under the radar by most analysts and outlets. Very few considered him a Top 15 player at the position or a Top 100 player overall.

Nevertheless, it takes just one team to fall in love with a prospect and the Broncos so happened to be it. They picked him at 74 overall in the third-round—much higher than most had anticipated. Some may call it a reach, but that’s irrelevant. All that matters now is how he performs and develops over the course of his rookie contract.

And now that the draft process is over, the focus is back to performing on the field when it matters most.

“Once I put the helmet back on, I felt like the same Pat Bryant that I have been my whole life,” stated Bryant after yesterday’s practice. “Finally getting back to football. I’m happy. It’s the game I love. I’m excited to get back on to that grass and play ball.”

In his last season at Illinois, he excelled on the field. He put together a career best 54 receptions for 984 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns. Not only that, but he also had one of the lowest drop rates of any draft-eligible receiver and scored well on contested catch metrics. He also embodies an “Don’t block, don’t get the rock,” attitude when it comes to making an effort in the run game—something he believes will serve him well as he adjusts to the rigors of the pros.

“Just being that physical route receiver. At Illinois, I earned my way on to the field being that blocking guy and physical guy. Kind of add that to the catching game and really all aspects of my game. Really using my size as an advantage will help me at this next level.”

Bryant had one of the best plays of the day yesterday beating first-round pick Jahdae Barron in coverage for a tough catch. According to multiple reports, he looked fluid in drills and caught everything that came his way. While it’s just rookie minicamp, it sounds like he is making a positive impression.

“When the ball is in the air, it’s mine. That was great coverage by Jahdae. Of course, we’re teammates and take care of each other, but those are the catches that I have to make to be successful at this level.”