Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois
Size:
Height: 6’3” | Weight: 200 lbs
Accomplishments:
Three-star recruit
“Pat Bryant is an athletic perimeter wide receiver with NFL size, acceleration, and strength to become a well-rounded playmaker.”
Strengths:
Physical route-runner
Strong catch radius
Reliable perimeter run blocker
Long strider with build-up speed
Concerns:
Repetitive and predictable release package
Limited route tree
Explosiveness off the ball to strike fear into press coverage defenders
Top-end speed
Film Analysis:
Pat Bryant enters the NFL draft as a big-bodied receiver who was one of the most productive receivers in the Big Ten. Bryant was a team captain and the go-to target in the Illinois offense. Bryant is an outside wide receiver for Illinois’ offense. He offers a tall frame with good length to make catches away from his frame. Bryant has good build-up, and open-field speed to win the vertical plane. He plays with a hot motor and full effort, especially as a blocker in the run and screen game on the perimeter. He will help spring his RB with strong, reliable blocks on the outside. Bryant offers a reliable red-zone target with his ball skills and level of comfort with pre-snap motions.
Bryant excels against off coverage with the DB giving a cushion. He is unimpeded at the snap, allowing him to explode upfield and open his stride. Bryant sells the vertical plane well making the defender believe only one route is possible. This opens up the rest of the underneath routes on the route tree. On curls and comeback routes, Bryant does a good job working back to the QB for an easier pitch and catch. Bryant sells double moves well to force the defender to bite on him showing a quick hitting route before changing directions upfield. He is a physical route-runner who is not distracted by mid-stem hand fighting or position jostling. He plays through contact during his route and stays on his path down the field despite the contact from his defender—even outmuscling them as the ball arrives.
Bryant is an effective catch point receiving target due to his strong catch radius. He can attack the ball at its highest point with full wingspan extension. As a bigger-framed WR, Bryant displays the toughness we desire when working in the middle of the field. He plays with good balance to absorb contact post-catch and keep churning for extra yards. Bryant showcases good burst and acceleration after the catch to shift gears quickly to outrun defenders for yards after the catch.
The concerns for Bryant will be his ability to consistently win against press coverage. Bryant appears to have the foot fire but he also has a lean frame and hasn’t competently shown the ability to run through strong corners who are pressing him at the line of scrimmage. Whenever he faced press, Bryant's results were mixed. Bryant uses repetitive maneuvers to shake defenders off their spots. He must expand his release package or risk being predictable to more advanced defenders. Being a buildup strider also has its negatives—he isn’t the most explosive or twitched-up pass-catcher. DBs aligned in press do not panic because they feel comfortable staying in phase early in the rep. Expanding the release package or getting stronger will create easier wins at the line of scrimmage for Bryant. Bryant appears to have the athleticism to run the entire route tree but needs development in how to be more effective early in the route to reset in separation at the top of the route.
Bryant projects to be able to fill roles as both an outside big-bodied target and as a slot role for an offense. His upside is a go-to big-bodied receiver for offense as he has a good combination of size and athleticism and is a smooth route-runner who plays the ball aggressively in the air. The combination of height, speed, ball skills, and physicality will help him find success in the league. Bryant has the upside to be a WR2 who can fill in in moments to be an NFL offense's leading receiver for spurts throughout the season.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Adequate Starter
Exposures: Nebraska (2024), Oregon (2024), Michigan (2024), Michigan State (2024), Penn State (2023), Indiana (2023), Nebraska (2023), Maryland (2023), Toledo (2023)
