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."
Denver drafted running back RJ Harvey earlier on Friday evening after selecting cornerback Jahdae Barron in the first round on Thursday.
Flip through photos of WR Pat Bryant's path from Illinois to the Broncos, who selected him with the 74th-overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
FILE - Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) runs during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Indiana, Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) catches a pass from quarterback Tommy DeVito as Minnesota defensive back Justin Walley defends during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant, right, catches a pass from quarterback Luke Altmyer as Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, left, defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) runs with the ball after a catch en route to scoring a touchdown past Maryland defensive back Ja'Quan Sheppard (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant advances the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - November 25, 2023 - Illinois Wide Receiver Pat Bryant (#13) during the game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL. Photo By Kevin Snyder
Kansas safety O.J. Burroughs, right, keeps Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant out of the end zone off a pass from quarterback Luke Altmyer during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant celebrates after a touchdown against Nebraska during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Bonnie Ryan)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - October 12, 2024 - Photos taken during the game between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium in Champaign,IL. (Photo By Patrick Pierson/Illinois Athletics)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant catches a touchdown pass from quarterback Luke Altmyer as Purdue defensive back Botros Alisandro defends during the overtime period of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. Illinois won 50-49. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant celebrates in the end zone after catching a touchdown pass during the first half in an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - November 16, 2024 - Photos taken during the game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium in Champaign,IL. (Photo By Quinten A Truitt/Illinois Athletics)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) scores on a touchdown on a 40 yard pass with four seconds remaining as teammate Alexander Capka-Jones (15) celebrates in an NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Piscataway, N.J. Illinois defeated Rutgers 38-31. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz)
CHICAGO, IL - November 30, 2024 - Photos taken during the game between the Northwestern Wildcats and the Illinois Fighting Illini at Wrigley Field in Chicago,IL. (Photo By Quinten Truitt/Illinois Athletics)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)
Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 1, 2025. (Brooke Sutton via AP)
