Pat Bryant WR Illinois | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Pat Bryant WR Illinois
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 01/20/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 4.56 seconds (29%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ROLE: Outside X-Receiver | |
Last Updated: 01/20/2025 | |
Draft Year: 2025 | |
40 time: 4.56 seconds (29%*) | |
Bowl Invite: Senior Bowl | |
SHARE THIS PROFILE:
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Overall Rating: | 83.0 / 100 | |
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Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
Defense Rating: |
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75% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
QB Rating When targeted: | 135.1 | |
Hands: |
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83% |
Short Receiving: |
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83% |
Intermediate Routes: |
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88% |
Deep Threat: |
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89% |
Blocking: |
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66% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#146
Position rank:
#18
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College Games: 44 College Snaps: 1872 | ||
College Combine Results
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Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
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Cedric Tillman - Tennessee |
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86% |
George Pickens - Georgia |
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82% |
Keon Coleman - Florida State |
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81% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Born December 10, 2002 in Jacksonville, Florida, Pat Bryant emerged from modest recruiting expectations to become one of the Big Ten's most reliable playmakers. A three-star prospect out of Atlantic Coast High School, Bryant's football pedigree runs deep – his father Patrick Sr. serves as Athletic Director at the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville, while his brother Brandon Harris played linebacker at USF.Bryant's collegiate arc tells a story of steady progression and clutch performance. After earning starts as a true freshman – one of just 14 players in Illinois history to do so – he developed into a cornerstone of the Illini passing attack. His senior campaign was nothing short of spectacular, tying program legend Brandon Lloyd's single-season touchdown record (10) while becoming the only player nationally to snag three game-winning touchdowns in the final two minutes or overtime.
The 6'3", 200-pound team captain saved his best for last, earning Second-Team All-Big Ten honors while finishing second in the conference with 984 receiving yards. His reliability became his calling card, notching at least one reception in his final 24 straight games while posting an elite 70.1% catch rate and just one drop in 2024.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Masterful at manipulating leverage against defensive backs, showing advanced understanding of how to set up breaks and create separation through route stems
- Natural hands catcher with a massive catch radius who plucks the ball away from his frame with confidence and control through contact
- Devastating on boundary routes where he can work the sideline, displaying elite awareness and toe-tap ability that will translate immediately to Sundays
- Brings that dog mentality to the contested catch game, winning 66.7% of jump ball situations through superior positioning and timing
- Silky smooth hip transitions when working downfield, particularly effective on deep post routes where he can stack defenders
- Creates yards after catch through long, powerful strides and surprising contact balance – gives defensive backs fits with his stiff arm in space
- Shows real savvy working back to the quarterback when plays break down, understanding how to find soft spots against zone coverage
- Refined understanding of spacing and timing in the red zone, evidenced by his program record-tying 10 touchdown grabs in 2024
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks explosive get-off at the line of scrimmage, limiting his ability to threaten defensive backs vertically despite good long speed
- Release package needs significant development – relies too heavily on pure athleticism against press coverage rather than technique
- Telegraphs route intentions on shorter patterns, particularly on comeback routes where his hip and foot speed can be sluggish
- Lean frame can lead to steering off his path against physical coverage, needs to add functional strength to maintain route integrity
- Must develop more consistency using his hands to defeat press coverage early in routes rather than trying to win with pure length
Scouting Report: Summary
Bryant will thrive in systems favoring iso routes and boundary work where his technical savvy and length create natural advantages. His advanced understanding of leverage and route-running nuances fit seamlessly into timing-based offenses that create one-on-one matchups outside the numbers. While he lacks elite separation skills, his proficiency in winning through technique and body positioning establishes him as a legitimate X-receiver at the next level.His game brings shades of Kenny Golladay's peak years (Giants and Lions)– a technician who compensates for average athleticism with precise footwork and dominant contested catch ability. Bryant's clutch performance in critical moments (three game-winning touchdowns in 2024) coupled with his red zone prowess suggest he could quickly develop into a trusted target in high-leverage situations. His route tree versatility and impressive ball tracking will make him especially valuable in play-action heavy schemes where he can work the intermediate areas and challenge safeties vertically.
Expect Bryant to hear his name called early on Day 3, likely in the fourth-round range. While he may never develop into a true WR1, his refined skill set and competitive temperament project him as a quality WR2 who can consistently move the chains and create mismatches in the red zone. His immediate impact will largely depend on landing in a system that maximizes his strengths as a boundary technician while masking his athletic limitations through scheme and play design.
Pat Bryant percentiles vs other Wide Receivers (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Pat Bryant (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
116.4
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
22.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.