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Pat Bryant has a battle ahead on the Denver Broncos depth chart

We are heading into the first preseason game for the Denver Broncos, and Pat Bryant already has some work on his hands.
ByRees Woodcock|
Jul 23, 2025; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) during Denver Broncos Training Camp. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Jul 23, 2025; Englewood, CO, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) during Denver Broncos Training Camp. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images | Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

It is early August, so everything has to be taken with a grain of salt, especially something like the Denver Broncos' unofficial depth chart.

The Broncos released this depth chart on Wednesday of this week, and it lays out some of the obvious starters as they head into the first preseason game, which is on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. CT/6:30 p.m. MDT.

One thing that caught my eye is where former Illini standout Pat Bryant sits. Bryant, the third-round draft pick in 2025 by Denver, isn’t anywhere to be found in the top three strings of the depth chart. You have to go all the way down to the fourth string to find him.

Being a third-round pick in the NFL Draft, you don’t have the built-in gravitas. You aren’t going to be an automatic starter like a first or second-round pick would be. I don’t think there is any worry of Bryant getting cut, because a third-round pick is high enough where teams don’t want to part ways with you either.

But what this unofficial depth chart says to me is that Bryant has some work on his hands. I expected him to be at least in the third-string realm, but he is going to have to battle.

The three players currently ahead of Bryant are Courtland Sutton, Devaughn Vele, and Trent Sherfield Sr.

Pat Bryant will have the opportunity to move up the Denver Broncos' depth chart

Sutton is locked into the starting job, as he just signed a huge extension with the Broncos. Beyond Sutton, I think there is an opportunity for Bryant.

Vele was a seventh-round pick in 2024. He had a good rookie season of 41 receptions for 475 yards and three touchdowns, but when you get 55 targets, you are going to usually see success.

The fact that Sherfield is ahead of Bryant is a bit of a head-scratcher, though. He has 86 receptions during his seven-year career. He had eight receptions for 83 yards and one touchdown last season with the Minnesota Vikings. I don’t see a possibility that Sherfield remains ahead of Bryant.

It all starts on Saturday. The first game of the preseason will be Bryant’s biggest contribution, I would imagine. He will get his chance to shine. A big game could easily mean moving up the depth chart. My prediction: Bryant opens the season as the third-string wide receiver and still sees snaps in each game.

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