Pat Bryant’s physical style puts Broncos WR3 race in focus after his Illinois draft selection

The Denver Broncos are looking at Pat Bryant as more than a draft pick with intriguing traits. After selecting the Illinois wide receiver with the 74th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, the organization’s internal questions have narrowed to a single, practical issue: can Bryant win the Broncos WR3 job and turn his strengths into reliable snaps in a crowded receiving room?

Bryant’s path to that role is rooted in what he was drafted to be. According to coverage of the pick, Denver targeted a “big and physical” receiver with a blocking identity and a skill set that matches the style Sean Payton prefers for wideouts. In other words, the Broncos are not simply asking Bryant to win routes. They are asking him to function as a creaser in the run game and a tough matchup piece across multiple alignments, which can raise his value even when targets are limited.

The Broncos’ interest in Bryant also grew out of a high-profile comparison Payton made soon after the selection. Mile High Report reported that Payton likened Bryant’s game to former Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, pointing to traits such as explosiveness off the line of scrimmage, competitiveness, and toughness. That comparison matters because it indicates a specific development plan. If Denver truly believes Bryant can mirror Thomas in the way Payton used him, then the Broncos’ WR3 competition is partly about how quickly Bryant can earn that “detail” reputation in route execution and contested-catch situations.

For Bryant, the competition is also about context inside the depth chart. Mile High Report’s review described the rookie’s early learning curve and noted that he started the season behind established options including Courtland Sutton, while also dealing with the pressure of internal depth behind the presumed top spots. The report described a slower start for Bryant on the chart, even as he showed flashes during training camp and preseason, including attention to receiving skill and hands.

The job itself is more nuanced than it sounds. A WR3 role in Denver is not only about producing targets when the ball is spread, it is also about fitting Payton’s broader roster logic. Payton’s offense typically asks receivers to be durable in routes and functional in the run game. That makes a blocking-forward receiver like Bryant particularly relevant, especially in an era when protection, timing, and third-down conversion depend on players who can do the less visible work between plays.

Still, the competition is not predetermined. Even when a team drafts a player with a clear identity, the WR3 job can shift based on how quickly other young receivers take steps, and based on whether the coaching staff feels the team can trust a particular receiver in every package. With the Broncos’ receiving room carrying multiple developmental threads, Bryant’s “win” condition is likely to be measured in consistency, not just physicality.

What to watch next is whether Bryant separates himself during camp and early-season roster decisions in a way that justifies expanded involvement. If he handles routes with conviction, keeps his hands reliable on contested targets, and shows he can be trusted as a blocker without creating penalties or breakdowns, Denver will have a strong argument to make him the default third option. If not, the WR3 job likely remains a rotation role that prevents any one player from fully owning the matchup value the Broncos drafted for.

At the center of the storyline is a simple tension: the Broncos selected Bryant for a particular function, but the NFL still forces players to prove the function translates to production and snaps. Bryant’s physical profile and the Payton comparison set expectations high. The rest will depend on how fast he can convert traits into a stable role the coaching staff can count on every week.