Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton is known for keeping his draft preferences under wraps — sometimes even from his own team. That secrecy appears to have paid off, as the Broncos managed to land Pat Bryant and RJ Harvey before the Jacksonville Jaguars could act.
On April 29, The Athletic’s Mike Silver reported that the Jaguars ideally wanted to take Harvey with the 70th overall pick. However, Denver selected him at No. 60, prompting Jaguars GM Tony Boselli to reportedly call the Broncos “b*******.”
Jaguars head coach Liam Coen was reportedly very high on Harvey, though Boselli expressed concerns about the running back’s pass protection abilities, saying, “It’s not his superpower,” and noting that Harvey’s strength lies in his elusiveness.
Silver wrote that Jaguars GM James Gladstone emphasized staying patient throughout the latter half of the second round, even as Coen grew impatient.
“Let’s just say ‘f— it’ and get him,” Coen said, according to Silver.
But Gladstone pushed back, saying, “We’ve got to roll the dice at some point,” adding sarcastically, “What’s the fun of just going out and getting your guys?”
RJ Harvey Expected to be Broncos’ RB1
Interestingly, the Broncos followed a path similar to what Coen recommended by selecting RJ Harvey earlier than many draft analysts had projected. Still, Brett Kollman of Underdog Fantasy sees significant potential in the pick.
“I had no idea Broncos fans weren’t happy with the RJ Harvey selection,” Kollman posted on X on April 28. “That kid is legit. He’s immediately their RB1.”
Harvey had a standout season, rushing for 1,577 yards on 232 attempts, leading the Big 12 with 6.8 yards per carry and scoring 22 touchdowns. A former college quarterback, he also contributed as a receiver, recording 20 catches for 267 yards.
All-American RJ Harvey 2024 Highlights pic.twitter.com/0QY29H5mhy
— UCF Football (@UCF_Football) December 16, 2024
In 2024, Denver’s leading rusher, Javonte Williams, managed only 513 yards before signing with the Dallas Cowboys in free agency.
Given that context, Harvey has a realistic opportunity to validate Kollman’s belief.
“Last season, 41 players had more rushing yards than Denver’s top back, Javonte Williams,” ESPN’s Steve Muench noted on April 25. “While I have several running backs rated higher than Harvey, he’s still a solid pick. Coach Sean Payton is clearly looking for a versatile playmaker who can create mismatches in space—Harvey could potentially step into that ‘joker’ role.”
Broncos Draft ‘Duval Pat’ Ahead of Hometown Team
The Broncos didn’t stop capitalizing on Jacksonville’s missed draft opportunities after their earlier pick — they struck again in the third round.
This time, it was Pat Bryant.
“Fourteen picks later, the ‘bastards’ took another player who may have been on the Jaguars’ radar — Illinois wide receiver Pat Bryant, known as ‘Duval Pat.’ Though Jacksonville native, he was picked much earlier than Gladstone would’ve considered,” Silver wrote.
Head coach Sean Payton praised both draft picks afterward, suggesting they could have a real chance to contribute meaningfully in 2025.
Pat Bryant has some of the best hands of any WR in this class pic.twitter.com/ubvD9RIuIw
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) April 21, 2025
Bryant faces tougher competition for playing time than Harvey, though not by much.
“Courtland Sutton, now 30, is entering the last year of his contract. Marvin Mims Jr. and Devaughn Vele are solid supporting options, but Denver needed another weapon for quarterback Bo Nix,” Muench noted. “Bryant ranked ninth on my wide receiver board, largely due to a lackluster combine showing. Still, he was one of my sleeper picks, and Sean Payton knows how to maximize a player’s potential.”
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