GREEN BAY, Wis. — Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant was selected by the Denver Broncos on Friday in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. The All-Big Ten performer was taken No. 74 overall and was the 10th wide receiver taken in the draft.

A second-team All-Big Ten player in 2024, Bryant led the Illini in receiving as he caught 54 passes for 984 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged more than 18 yards per reception and had just one drop despite a career-high 78 targets.

Bryant is the seventh 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.

“They know all my attributes,” Bryant said Friday night, on a conference call with reporters. “They know what I can do on the field. So my main focus in getting to Denver is just do my job and help the team win.”

Bryant's 10 touchdowns as a senior tied an Illinois single-season record, and 77.8 percent of his catches went for a touchdown or first down. He also added three game-winning touchdowns in the final two minutes of overtime or regulation.

In his career, Bryant caught 137 passes for 2,095 yards and 19 touchdowns. He had at least 34 catches and 450 yards in three consecutive seasons to end his career.

Bryant is the highest drafted Illinois receiver since AJ Jenkins, who was selected by the 49ers in the first round in 2012. He will be Denver's first wide receiver from Illinois since Brandon Lloyd from 2009-11.

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.

Bryant is expected to compete alongside Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin, Devaughn Vele, Trent Sherfield, Michael Bandy and A.T. Perry at the wide receiver position on the Broncos' roster.