ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Denver has doubled up on offensive weapons on Day 2.
With the 74th-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Broncos selected Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant.
A second-team All-Big Ten player in 2024, Bryant led the Illini in receiving as he caught 54 passes for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged more than 18 yards per reception and had just one drop despite a career-high 78 targets.
"That's how I am as a receiver," Bryant said of his sure hands. "My main focus is when the ball's in the air, it's mine, and I'm better than the man that's in front of me."
Bryant's 10 touchdowns as a senior tied an Illinois single-season record, and 77.8 percent of his catches went for a touchdown or first down. He also added three game-winning touchdowns in the final two minutes of overtime or regulation.
In his career, Bryant caught 137 passes for 2,095 yards and 19 touchdowns. He had at least 34 catches and 450 yards in three consecutive seasons to end his career.
Bryant will compete alongside Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, Trent Sherfield, Michael Bandy and A.T. Perry at the wide receiver position on the Broncos' roster and catch passes from quarterback Bo Nix.
"I've seen a lot of great things," Bryant said of Nix. "Just having an opportunity to play with a great quarterback like Bo Nix, it will be very, very special."
