Pat Bryant NFL Draft 2025: Scouting Report for Illinois WR

— Innate ball skills and body control to win contested catches with high point ability.

— Good football IQ and feel for the game; identifies coverages post-snap.

— Long-striding athlete who can eat up grass and cushion if give a free release.

— Lacks immediate/instant explosiveness off the line of scrimmage.

— Despite height and frame, he doesn’t utilize wingspan to the full extent at the catch point.

— Route tree is not overly polished or expanded.

— 3-Star recruit in 2022 class, per 247Sports

— 2024: Second-Team All-Big Ten; Team captain

Pat Bryant is a physical and alignment versatile possession receiver with good athleticism to win on the outside.

Pat Bryant has built up speed to attack the vertical plane. If given a free release with minimal contact, he strides upfield to work behind the cornerback. Bryant is a long strider and eats up ground when he is at top speed.

Regarding route running, Bryant uses subtle movements to push defenders off their spots and open space for him to work into. Bryant’s hard jab steps at the top of routes to create the separation needed for his QB. He runs routes with good pacing and timing syncing with the other receivers’ route patterns. Finding and working into voids in the defensive coverage shells is a strength of Bryant.

He identifies moving parts well post snap and gets to his landmarks—he understands when to settle into the void and keep going for instant YAC. Once the ball is caught, Bryant displays good burst/explosion, transitioning from receiver to runner. He gets north/south quickly to optimize his yards after catch opportunities.

Bryant thrives when the football is in flight due to his ball skills and body control. Acrobatic catches are common for him on the sideline. Bryant flashes late hands as the ball approaches and his defender is in tight coverage. He does a good job on back shoulder fades to decelerate and create late separation from his defender.

Top-end speed is questionable for Bryant. He can build speed up but is not a dynamic athlete at the snap. Defenders won’t be deterred from tight press alignment, they will make him work to get over the top and stack them quickly. Bryant is inconsistent with using his wingspan at the catch point. Yes, he tracks the ball well but he will wait for it to drop instead of attacking it at its highest point with full extension. NFL defenders are adept at punching through the pocket to dislodge the ball and force pass breakups.

Overall, Pat Bryant projects as a well-rounded perimeter wide receiver. He is effective inside as a “power slot” in multi-WR sets. His plus-level run blocking and effort will put him in the coach’s good graces. Bryant can be an adequate WR3 in an NFL offense.

GRADE: 6.9 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

PRO COMPARISON: Shades of Rashod Bateman

Written by B/R NFL Scout Dame Parson

Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.