NFL executive has high praise for former Illinois wideout Pat Bryant

Just a few months ago, Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant learned he would be keeping his navy and orange uniforms, and no, he didn't stay in Champaign for another season. The young wideout was drafted by the Denver Broncos and got the chance he had always dreamed of: to play in the NFL.

Then, after impressive preseason performances where he earned 110 yards on eight receptions, Bryant made the Broncos' 53-man roster.

Now, Denver's general manager, George Paton, has even stepped out to praise the former Illinois Fighting Illini offensive star.

After sharing that he truly believed former Oregon quarterback Bo Nix was the new franchise QB for the Broncos, Paton shared that Bryant was well "ahead of schedule" as a rookie in the league.

"Routes, hands, size, strength, big-play ability, 50-50 balls. And then you see him blocking. And so, he’s ahead of schedule," Paton said.

Denver head coach Sean Payton praised Bryant earlier in the preseason, saying that the former Illinois player was an "unselfish" receiver and had shown a lot of promise when it came to his big-play ability, contested catches, route running, and toughness as a blocker.

While at Illinois, Bryant earned 2,095 yards and 19 touchdowns on just 137 receptions, averaging 18.2 yards per catch and earning 10 touchdowns in his senior season with the Illini. Bryant was also a dynamic kick returner in college, earning 124 yards on a minimal six returns during his sophomore and junior seasons.

Many reports out of Denver, including one from NFL media member Dov Kleiman, have praised Bryant's speed and agility on the field, going as far as to say that Nix may have just found his new WR2, behind his former Oregon teammate Troy Franklin.

Bryant and the Broncos kick off their 2025 regular season against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 7, at 3:05 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on FOX.