logo
Broncos dubbed a ‘perfect landing spot' for WR Pat Bryant

Broncos dubbed a ‘perfect landing spot' for WR Pat Bryant

USA Today30-04-2025

Broncos dubbed a 'perfect landing spot' for WR Pat Bryant
The Denver Broncos drafted Pat Bryant, a wide receiver from the Illinois Fighting Illini, with the 74th pick in the 2025 NFL draft last week. Bryant, who played all four years with the Illini, finished his career tying Brandon Lloyd for most touchdowns in a season (10) and ended third in the Big Ten conference in touchdowns and receiving yards.
According to Draft Wire's Paul M. Banks, Bryant's keeping his school colors and changing locations is a win for the Broncos. Banks highlighted how Bryant's versatility could help Denver second-year quarterback Bo Nix continue to flourish.
You saw that at the Senior Bowl, where his performance helped to offset his disappointing showing at the combine. He is a vertical threat who can easily go over the top on opposing DBs, and everyone was able to see that on his tape. Bryant is going to give second year starting quarterback Bo Nix another big target to work with, and that should help the young QB1 further develop quicker.
While Bryant may not have the speed (4.61 40 time), he has the size (6-3, 200 pounds) that could should him a threat in head coach Sean Payton's offense.
Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

J.K. Dobbins Sends Clear Message on His Free Agency Decision
J.K. Dobbins Sends Clear Message on His Free Agency Decision

Yahoo

time8 hours ago

  • Yahoo

J.K. Dobbins Sends Clear Message on His Free Agency Decision

J.K. Dobbins Sends Clear Message on His Free Agency Decision originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Denver Broncos are entering the 2025 NFL season with a reinforced roster and heightened expectations. After a postseason appearance in 2024, general manager George Payton signed two former San Francisco 49ers, linebacker Dre Greenlaw and safety Talanoa Hufanga, to three-year deals worth $35 million and $39 million, respectively. Advertisement Both former 49ers bring Pro Bowl credentials and playoff experience to a defense that already ranked third in points per game allowed (18.3) last season. With second-year quarterback Bo Nix, 25, looking to build on a successful rookie campaign, Denver has positioned itself as a team to watch in the AFC. But the most notable addition came later in free agency — one that could reshape the Broncos' offensive identity. J.K. Dobbins runs the ball against the New Orleans A. Vasquez-Imagn Images That move was the signing of 26-year-old running back J.K. Dobbins, who joins Denver after a bounce-back season with the Los Angeles Chargers. 'I felt like it was the best fit for me,' Dobbins said. 'Defense is really good, like super good. Quarterback's amazing. I like the RB room. O-line is amazing as well. So, it was a no-brainer... I also heard that it's a good fan base. So that's why I'm here.' A former Ohio State star and 2020 second-round pick, he's totaled 2,252 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns across 37 career games, averaging an impressive 5.2 yards per carry. Advertisement Dobbins rushed for 905 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, ranking 22nd and 14th in the league, respectively. It marked a full-circle return after an Achilles tear in 2023, a setback that had cast doubt on his long-term explosiveness. Related: Trent Williams Has Strong Words Amid Retirement Speculation This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.

J.K. Dobbins on Broncos: "We're going to do great things this year"
J.K. Dobbins on Broncos: "We're going to do great things this year"

NBC Sports

time10 hours ago

  • NBC Sports

J.K. Dobbins on Broncos: "We're going to do great things this year"

Former Ravens and Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins has officially joined the Broncos. And he's very happy to be in Denver. 'It felt amazing,' Dobbins said regarding the signing of a one-year contract. 'It's a true blessing to me. I'm so happy to be here. We're going to do great things this year.' Why the Broncos? 'I felt like it was the best fit for me,' Dobbins said. 'The defense is really good — like super good. The quarterback is amazing. I like the [running back] room. [The offensive] line is amazing as well. It was a no-brainer — and coach Sean Payton and all the other coaches on staff, too. I know I'll get coached well here. I also heard that it's a good fan base. That's why I'm here.' He also sees a benefit in getting a chance to face the team that complicated his effort to maximize his 2025 compensation with the application of the little-used unrestricted free agent tender. 'I always have a chip on my shoulder, but that was a little weird,' Dobbins said. 'It's a business. It's for my agent to handle. Good luck to [the Chargers]. I'm a Bronco now. They have to see me twice a year. That's my thoughts on it. 'I'm going to have the chip on my shoulder, of course, but I'm here. I'm worried about winning more than just beating — I don't want to just beat the Chargers. I want to go on and I want to get a ring. I've been in the playoffs every year I've played, so I'm tired of losing in them. That's my goal. Bring a Super Bowl to the city and just be a blessing to the community, as well. Dobbins joins a backfield that is headlined by rookie RJ Harvey. Dobbins, if healthy, could end up being the top option.

"You 20-something years old and thinking you're gonna go to jail for the rest of your life" - Gary Payton recalls Kobe Bryant fearing his career was over amid off court troubles in 2003
"You 20-something years old and thinking you're gonna go to jail for the rest of your life" - Gary Payton recalls Kobe Bryant fearing his career was over amid off court troubles in 2003

Yahoo

time14 hours ago

  • Yahoo

"You 20-something years old and thinking you're gonna go to jail for the rest of your life" - Gary Payton recalls Kobe Bryant fearing his career was over amid off court troubles in 2003

"You 20-something years old and thinking you're gonna go to jail for the rest of your life" - Gary Payton recalls Kobe Bryant fearing his career was over amid off court troubles in 2003 originally appeared on Basketball Network. By the summer of 2003, the Los Angeles Lakers were preparing for a season unlike any other. They had just completed a blockbuster offseason, adding future Hall of Famers Gary Payton and Karl Malone to an already loaded roster. Advertisement On paper, it looked like a championship coronation was inevitable. But behind the scenes, a storm had begun to form — and its center was Kobe Bryant. At just 24 years old, he was facing something far bigger than basketball. In July of that year, he was charged with sexual assault in Eagle, Colorado — an allegation that would engulf his life, career and reputation for months to come. Bryant's tough battle While the case would eventually be dropped in 2004 after the accuser declined to testify, the weight of the accusation was immediate and paralyzing. In the middle of one of the most anticipated Lakers seasons ever, "Mamba" found himself under a microscope that no arena spotlight could compete with. Advertisement "Now you have to get extra, extra cautious and that's what he did," Payton said, reflecting on that tough period for Bryant. "Guys don't understand, you've never been in that situation and you 20-something years old and thinking you're gonna go to jail for the rest of your life and you're one of the greatest basketball players that is playing right now." "The Glove" wasn't just another veteran guard joining a superteam; he was placed in the eye of Kobe's storm and handpicked by Lakers management to act as a stabilizing force. The organization saw in Gary a unique combination of toughness, leadership and relatability that could anchor their young star through the turbulence. And GP understood the weight of that assignment from day one. Payton's arrival in Los Angeles came with heavy expectations. A nine-time NBA All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year, he brought grit and fire to every court he stepped on. But what he found in Los Angeles that season wasn't the glamorous Hollywood ride he had imagined. The locker room was splintered. Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal, once the league's most dominant duo, had become embroiled in a public feud that often played out through veiled jabs and passive-aggressive media quotes. Advertisement Now, with the added layer of "Mamba's" legal troubles dominating headlines, the team dynamics became more fragile than ever. Practices were uneven. Trust within the team felt conditional. And the media presence turned suffocating. Every city they played in became a new arena for public scrutiny. Related: "I told Jordan he was overrated, I rooted against him his whole career" - Jalen Rose opens up about hating Michael Jordan and the Bulls Facing the fire The burden on Kob' was as deeply internal as it was external. As Payton noted, the psychological toll of facing serious criminal charges at such a young age, while also carrying the weight of being a franchise cornerstone, was staggering. Advertisement "It was looking all bad because all the stuff that was coming out, it was like he was one of these guys who was just disrespecting her and treating her like trash," the gritty point guard recalled. The perception of Bryant was shifting fast in the public eye and the Lakers needed to act quickly to preserve not just their season, but the emotional well-being of their young star. Behind the scenes, GP took an important role seriously. He stayed close. He watched over. And even when he couldn't change the situation, he made sure Bryant didn't spiral out of it completely. That mentorship may not have delivered a championship — despite the Lakers reaching the 2004 NBA Finals, they fell in five games to the Detroit Pistons, but its legacy ran deeper than rings. Kobe would go on to reshape his narrative, evolve his leadership and build one of the most disciplined second acts in sports history. The man who once feared his career might vanish overnight would finish it as a five-time champion, an MVP and a global icon. Payton, who eventually won his lone NBA title with the Miami Heat in 2006, never downplayed the chaos of that 2003-04 Lakers campaign. Advertisement Related: Shaq threatened Gary Payton's agent to join the Purple and Gold in 2003: "He told me he'd break my neck if I don't get Gary to the Lakers" This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 8, 2025, where it first appeared.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store