The former Illinois wide receiver is making a statement in Broncos training camp.
Former Illinois Fighting Illini wide receiver Pat Bryant played four seasons in Champaign, Illinois, recording over 2,000 career receiving yards along with 19 receiving touchdowns.
The Denver Broncos made him the 74th overall pick in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, giving Bryant a chance to showcase his talent in one of the league's most pass happy offenses.
On Monday, reporter Kay Adams sat down with Payton for a practice field chat during Broncos training camp, one that led to a discussion about the former Fighting Illini wide receiver and words of praise from his illustrious head coach.
Jan 4, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos wide receiver Pat Bryant (13) handles the ball during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Payton's Promise
Adams could not believe the talent Bryant displayed at Broncos Park in Englewood, Colorado during training camp, which prompted Payton to respond.
"I want whatever Pat Bryant's havin' to drink," Adams said on her show Up & Adams.
"Whatever he's hydrating with," she added.
"How the hell are you gonna keep this kid off the field?" Adams asked Payton.
"We're not," the Broncos coach quipped back.
Last year's rookie season was a solid one for Bryant, who compiled 31 receptions for 378 yards and a touchdown while learning the offense alongside his head coach and star quarterback Bo Nix.
Bryant could be poised for a sophomore leap judging by the comments of Payton and his history of rapid improvement during his time in Champaign, Ill. with coach Bret Bielema's team.
Bryant had 98 receiving yards as a freshman with Illinois and finished with 984 yards as a senior before heading to the professional level.
Payton Highlights Bryant's Best Traits
Payton waxed poetic about Bryant's best traits to Adams while catching her off-guard with one comment.
"The jump, explain the jump," Adams asked Payton about Bryant's improved play.
"Well, he's real confident. We saw it last year," he continued.
"Did we? I don't know if we did, I'll admit it, I don't know if I did," Adams said about Bryant in a Broncos uniform in 2025.
"It's hard, when you're in LA, to see it all," Payton said of Adams.
"But we saw it, like here day-to-day, he's got really strong hands in traffic, he's got that gift, where, anyone who runs well after the catch, their feet stay on the turf, his feet stay on the ground.
"He's got really, really good hands, so you're seeing someone in year two with that confidence, he's extremely smart so he knows all the positions."
Nix has been throwing his second year wide receiver into places where only he can catch the ball, a testament to his confidence in the former Fighting Illini star.
"There's a lot of confidence in his catch radius, he's big, um, Illinois," Payton said matter-of-factly, giving credit to the Fighting Illini program for developing him.
Bryant is part of an underrated Denver receiving corps that includes Courtland Sutton, Jaylen Waddell, and Troy Franklin.
He's caught in a logjam that may make it difficult to obtain more playing time, but Bryant has the skills to succeed and a quarterback who appears to understand what he can do on the field as well as anyone else.
