Pat Bryant keeps building case for early playing time with Denver Broncos

When you are a top-three round NFL Draft pick, you are going to have your chance to shine.

That is the case with Pat Bryant. The former Illini star wide receiver was selected in the third round by the Denver Broncos. With talent ahead of him, Bryant is going to have to fight for snaps and time early on in the 2025 campaign.

Players like Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., and Devaughn Vele are all ahead of Bryant on the depth chart. But that doesn’t mean a whole lot, as the young rookie continues to build his case for snaps early in his career.

In his first game of the preseason, Bryant went for a quiet two receptions for 21 yards. Denver still won the game, but his contributions weren’t nearly as big as they were in game two of his first preseason action.

On Saturday, the Broncos once again came out victorious, 27-7, and Bryant was one of the stars. He caught a team-high four receptions for 70 yards. Those are great numbers, but Bryant is more than just great hands.

In the game against the Arizona Cardinals, Bryant had multiple possessions when he was out front blocking for his teammates. This video is one example. Bryant is blocking at the end of the video, which enables Evan Engram to gain at least 10 more yards. This was something that Illinois fans had gotten used to, and now the Broncos are getting the ‘other’ things that Bryant gives to his team.

Denver Broncos could have some impressive depth at wide receiver with Pat Bryant emerging

The Broncos have a good problem on their hands. They have too many talented wide receivers who might not get a ton of snaps in 2025.

Sutton and Mims are two wide receivers who will lead Denver in receptions and targets this season. Vele had a good year in 2024, so he is probably going to be a solid option for Bo Nix as well.

The second string for Denver is also stout. Bryant is putting up impressive numbers and doing what it takes to be a long-time wide receiver in the NFL. Alongside Bryant is Troy Franklin. He is also having a good preseason with seven receptions for 85 yards and two touchdowns in two games. He was a fourth-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft for Denver.

Bryant and Franklin led the Broncos in receiving against the Cardinals. This was a bit of a showcase of what Denver has in the second string. Their depth is impressive and will be a huge asset to the franchise moving forward.