ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It wasn't Pat Bryant's jersey number that stirred the comparison.
Bryant, the 74th-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, wore No. 13 in college as he tied an Illinois single-season record with 10 touchdown grabs in 2024.
But as Broncos Head Coach Sean Payton looked for comps to Bryant in the evaluation process, there was much more to evaluate than just the fact that Bryant's jersey matched the No. 13 that former Offensive Player of the Year Michael Thomas wore in New Orleans for seven years.
"We always talk about, 'Who does he remind [you of]?'" Payton said Friday. "We try to find comps. There were so many things about his game that reminded me of Mike Thomas."
Payton drafted Thomas in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and the Ohio State product went on to make three Pro Bowls and notch two first-team All-Pro appearances. His 149 catches in 2019 remain the most in a single season in league history, and he averaged more than 100 yards per game that season.
That's why Payton's comparison isn't a projection or a prediction — it's merely an acknowledgment of two draft prospects with similar traits.
"With respect to Mike who became [elite]. … I mean, holy cow," Payton said. You don't ever want to put pressure on a rookie like that; we're just talking about traits."
Those traits, though, still stood out in a way that made the sure-handed receiver — he had one drop on 78 targets in 2024 — appeal to the Broncos.
"[He's] really explosive off the line of scrimmage, he's very competitive, very tough," Payton said. "We mentioned this yesterday: Periodically, you have more insight on a certain player. [Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Assistant Head Coach] Jim Leonhard worked at Illinois the year before we hired him. So, Jim had insight to the makeup [and] toughness. I really think [highly of] the body of work and all the additional film study, but his size and his hands are outstanding."
Payton also pointed out Bryant's competitiveness and knack for making plays in big moments. Bryant posted three game-winning touchdowns in the final two minutes of regulation or overtime last year, and nearly 80 percent of his catches resulted in a first down or touchdown.
"He was just a player that excelled in crunch time," Payton said. "I think he had a walk-off [or] a couple of these big plays. Obviously, he's physical but the player comp for me — forget the jersey number — [was] just of a lot of traits that Mike had, especially at the line of scrimmage."
'HE CAN CONTINUE TO GROW'
The Broncos jumped back into the end of the third round to draft LSU defensive end Sai'vion Jones, and General Manager George Paton said the 6-foot-5, 280-pound player "kind of fits our mold of defensive line."
Jones recorded more pressures in 2024 (43) than he did his previous three years combined, and his ascension has the Broncos hoping he can continue to develop.
"We feel like he can continue to grow in the that role," Paton said. "He'll play [defensive] end for us, but he has flexibility down the line of scrimmage. This guy is long. He's strong [and] plays with really good leverage. Then he's improving as a rusher. You could see that throughout the season, then you got to the Senior Bowl. We thought he had a really good week and played really well in the game. So, he's just going to keep getting better. [Defensive Line Coach] Jamar Cain has coached him, so again, we had insight on him like we did some of the others.
"I think what sticks out with him is just how hard he plays. The motor. He goes 110 miles per hour every play, so he fits in with our group. He'll have time to develop as well, as he has good guys in front of him."
He was also a player the Broncos weren't sure they were going to be able to acquire.
"I think that both George and I felt like 14 picks earlier, that was going to be a hard [player] to get," Payton said. "We just felt like that player was going to come off the board. Fortunately for us, he was there still."
