ENGLEWOOD — Pat Bryant briefly paused his conference call with media to listen as the announcer called his name during Day 2 of the NFL draft.

His draft party of more than 20 friends and family erupted in cheers Friday while Bryant, with shades glued to his face and a smirk morphing into a smile, illuminated the room.

“There it is baby! Yessir!” The Denver Broncos’ newest wide receiver said after learning of his selection in the third round with the 74th pick.

That moment is the only time he’ll lose focus as the Illinois receiver plans to fill a necessary gap in the Broncos’ offense. The Broncos swapped several picks with the Carolina Panthers to move up in the draft. Denver traded the 51st, 85th, 122nd, and 208th picks to get the 57th pick – which Denver used to select Central Florida’s RJ Harvey – 74th, 111th, and 230th.

“It’s been a very special moment of reaching my dreams and getting to the next level,” Bryant said. “At the end of the day, I still feel like I have a lot of work to do.”

Bryant wrapped his career at Illinois last season with 43 catches for 560 yards and seven touchdowns.

During the post-draft press conference, Broncos coach Sean Payton said “so many things” about Bryant’s game resembled Mike Thomas.

Thomas played in New Orleans for part of Payton’s 15-year tenure with the Saints and the star wide out hauled in 565 receptions for 6,569 yards and 36 touchdowns during his seven-year NFL stint.

“You don’t ever want to put pressure on a rookie like that, we’re just talking about traits,” Payton said. “(Bryant is) real explosive off the offensive line of scrimmage, very competitive and very tough.”

The Broncos added defense with the 20th pick in the first round and drafted corner back Jahdae Barron out of Texas. But Bryant will bolster the Broncos’ wide receiver group, a welcomed addition of firepower for quarterback Bo Nix.

Nix threw for 3,775 yards with Courtland Sutton accounting for 1,081 of those on 81 receptions and eight touchdowns, both of which led all Denver receivers. However, the Broncos lack depth at the position.

Outside of Marvin Mims Jr., who had 503 yards, no other Broncos receiver eclipsed 500. And Javonte Williams, Denver’s top running back, held the title of second-leading pass catcher with 51 receptions.

Earlier this week, Payton said, “We’re going to add numbers to the position. … Whether that’s through the draft or free agency.”

Three rounds in, Payton and general manager George Paton brought those words to fruition and Bryant hopes to do the same.

Bryant’s most electric performance at Illinois came Nov. 11 against Indiana when he caught five passes for a career-high 131 yards and a touchdown. In the season opener at home against Toledo on Sept. 2, Bryant reached pay dirt a career-best two times and added 59 yards.

“That’s my main focus,” Bryant said. “When the ball is in the air, it’s mine and I’m better than the man who’s in front of me.”

Besides the obvious excitement of watching his name appear on the screen during ESPN’s draft coverage, Bryant is ready to help elevate Nix and the Broncos’ passing attack.

It’s just grit and grind from here for Bryant. No specific reception or yardage goals. Just whatever is required of the rookie to fill the win column.

“I’m just ready to get to Denver, and go to work and help the team win,” Bryant said.