Former Illini Pat Bryant Turning Heads in Denver

Former Illinois standout Pat Bryant is quickly becoming one of the biggest story lines of Denver Broncos training camp. He has gained impressive buzz as he continues to prove himself as a reliable weapon for head coach Sean Payton, and second-year quarterback Bo Nix ahead of the 2025 season.

In only his second game as a pro, the Broncos’ 74th overall pick put together a solid performance in Saturday’s 27-7 preseason win over the Arizona Cardinals. Bryant led the way for all Denver receivers. He hauled in 4 catches for 70 yards on 5 targets. One of those big receptions, setting up an 8-yard rushing score for rookie RJ Harvey.

He also delivered a key downfield block that allowed Evan Engram for a 58-yard run deep into Cardinals territory. With the help of Bryant’s big night, the Broncos rolled to a 2–0 start to the preseason.

If Bryant continues to flash the playmaking ability Illini fans saw time and time over in Champaign, he’ll have a real shot at earning a key rotational role in the Mile High City.

Broncos rookie WR Pat Bryant in 2 drives:

• 4 targets
• 3 catches
• 62 receiving yards

He has looked fantastic this offseason 👀pic.twitter.com/dp2JhlKITf

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 17, 2025

ESPN’s Jeff Legwold Calls Pat Bryant the Broncos’ “Biggest Surprise”

ESPN’s Jeff Legwold — a senior writer for the Denver Broncos — is very high on the former Illini. In fact, among his list of each NFL team’s “Biggest Surprise Player of Each Team,” the Broncos analyst tabbed Bryant as his pick for Denver’s “biggest surprise” of the preseason thus far.

Legwold: “Perhaps it’s difficult to be ‘under the radar’ when your head coach compares you to Michael Thomas before you’ve set foot in the team’s facility, but the rookie (Bryant) showed he will do his part to carve out some playing time. The third-round pick (74th overall) ran a 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine, which deterred some in the league. But the Broncos saw a precise route runner who consistently created space with explosive release at the line of scrimmage.”

He continued, “He consistently showed physicality to win contested catches during the Broncos’ offseason program, and quarterback Bo Nix showed the confidence to put the ball to Bryant in tight situations. Bryant’s catch over first-round pick Jahdae Barron in minicamp was one of the best receptions in the three-day affair. Playing time will be hard to come by with Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and Troy Franklin getting most of the work with the starters, but Bryant is in the mix if he builds on his offseason work.”

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