Pat Bryant Drafted #74 Overall by Denver in the 2025 NFL Draft

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Pat Bryant is headed to Denver. Bryant, one of the all-time great Illinois wide receivers, was selected Friday in the third round (#74 overall pick) of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos. 

Bryant is the sixth Illini drafted by Denver and the first since T Jim Juriga in 1986. Bryant will reconnect with former Illini teammate Alex Palczewski, who is an offensive lineman for the Broncos. 

Bryant totaled 2,095 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns during his four-year Illinois career, including 984 receiving yards and a program-record-tying 10 receiving touchdowns in 2024. He was named to the 2024 AP All-Big Ten First Team and 2024 Phil Steele All-America Second Team. 

Bryant tied for the Big Ten lead in receiving touchdowns (10) and finished second in receiving yards (984) during last year's regular season. One of the most clutch players in this year's Draft, Bryant was the only player in the nation with three game-winning touchdowns in the final two minutes or overtime last year with winners against Nebraska, Rutgers, and Purdue.

One of the stars of Illinois' rise under Bret Bielema, Bryant helped Illinois to a program-record-tying 10 wins in 2024. He leaves Champaign with school records in single-season receiving touchdowns, Memorial Stadium single-season receiving touchdowns (6), and Memorial Stadium career receiving touchdowns (13).

Bryant is the 258th NFL Draft pick in Illinois history and the 56th NFL Draft pick of Bret Bielema's 16-year head coaching career. Entering the Draft, Bielema had the eighth-most picks among active head coaches.

Bryant is the Illini's eighth top-100 pick among the 12 NFL Draft selections during Bielema's four years at Illinois. Bielema has the most top-100 picks of any coach in Illini history during their first four seasons as head coach. 

Most Top 100 Picks, First Four Seasons at Illinois
8 Bret Bielema, 2022-25 NFL Drafts
7 Ray Eliot, 1943-46 NFL Drafts
5 John Mackovic, 1989-92 NFL Drafts
5 Lou Tepper, 1993-97 NFL Drafts

Highest Drafted Illinois Wide Receivers
A.J. Jenkins, 2012, San Francisco (1st, 30)
Arrelious Benn, 2010, Tampa Bay (2nd, 39)
Mike Bellamy, 1990, Philadelphia (2nd, 50)
John Wright, 1968, Detroit (2nd, 53)
Pat Bryant, 2025, Denver (3rd, 74)
David Williams, 1986, Chicago (3rd, 82)
Mitchell Brookins, 1984, Buffalo (4th, 95)
Brandon Lloyd, 2003, San Francisco (4th, 124)
Darryl Usher, 1988, New England (7th, 181)
Casey Washington, 2024, Atlanta (6th, 187)

Top 100 Picks, Last Four Years (2022-25 NFL Drafts)
19 Michigan 
16 Ohio State 
14 Penn State 
8 Illinois
7 Iowa 
5 Minnesota 
3 Maryland 
2 Michigan State 
2 Nebraska 
2 Purdue 
2 Wisconsin
1 Northwestern
1 Rutgers
0 Indiana
11 Oregon 
9 Washington
8 USC 
5 UCLA