The Denver Broncos had a draft class that no one would have been able to predict but it is one that George Paton and Sean Payton are going to make no apologies for.
They selected the players that were high on their board, regardless of popular outside opinion. That is why they selected Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant with the No. 74 overall selection in the third round, a pick that many draft analysts called a "reach".
Damion Parson at Bleacher Report feels that way as well. While discussing some players who were chosen by the wrong team, he listed the Broncos taking Bryant.
"Jayden Daniels wasn't the only rookie quarterback to impress in 2024. Bo Nix led the Denver Broncos to the playoffs with a strong and efficient performance.
Most analysts expected the Broncos to add more receiving talent for Nix in the 2025 NFL draft. They did exactly that by taking Illinois wideout Pat Bryant in the third round. He adds another big-bodied receiver to a room with Courtland Sutton and Devaughn Vele.
Bryant was rated as Day 3 prospect on our final big board. He is a physical and strong-handed receiver with solid route-running abilities. He extends the quarterback's target window with his great ball skills and leaping ability.
However, Bryant does not separate well enough to project success as a traditional perimeter wideout. He lacks explosiveness and acceleration to threaten NFL cornerbacks vertically. Tight man coverage can suffocate and choke the air out of his routes.
There were better receiving prospects on the board, including Jaylin Noel, Jalen Royals, Tai Felton, and Elic Ayomanor. Doubling down on receivers who will frequently need to win contested catches is not the greatest idea.
Bryant must prove he has more ways to uncover from tight and physical man coverage to live up to his draft position", wrote Parson.
Those are some strong thoughts, but Payton felt just as strong about Bryant when he recently compared him to former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas. Payton also coached Marques Colston, a player to who Bryant has drawn comparisons to, in New Orleans.
Colston was a seventh-round pick in 2006, largely because of the same perceptions scouts made about Bryant listed above. But all Colston did in 10 seasons under Payton was to become the Saints' all-time leader in receptions, receiving yardage and touchdown catches.
While all of those names listed above may have looked better than Bryant on paper, Payton got the guy he wanted and he'll eagerly anticipate proving all of those scouts and analysts wrong about him.
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