Steelers' Brian Angelichio Drops Exciting Details Behind Pittsburgh's Pick Of WR Germie Bernard

The Pittsburgh Steelers decided to trade up in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft to select WR Germie Bernard from Alabama. Steelers General Manager Omar Khan and Mike McCarthy made the decision to move up to the 47th pick to make the selection. It is no secret that Pittsburgh got jumped by the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday evening in their pursuit of wide receiver Makai Lemon, and they did not want to miss out again on a receiver they truly valued. 

The trade-up to land Bernard is very telling about how excited the Steelers are about the player. However, when Steelers Offensive Coordinator Brian Angelichio spoke to the media after the pick on Friday, he explained a key detail that helped clarify why the team made the decision to draft him and trade up to get him.

Angelichio pointed to Bernard’s versatility as a major reason the Steelers felt comfortable being aggressive in the draft. He emphasized that Bernard can play both inside and outside, giving the offense flexibility in how they deploy him. That ability to move around the formation stood out to Pittsburgh as they evaluated how he could fit into their receiver room and overall offensive structure.

"You know we like his versatility and his ability to play inside and outside," Angelichio said while speaking with several members of the Pittsburgh media on Friday. "When we get him here, certainly we see a guy that can play inside and outside. Ultimately, when he starts practicing, we will see where he fits best with the other receivers we have."

He also stressed Bernard’s flexibility in terms of usage, noting that players with multiple roles are especially valuable in today’s game. 

Angelichio mentioned the ability to move him around and use him in different spots so defenses cannot easily key in on one area. That kind of adaptability was a key part of what made Bernard appealing as a draft target.

"Yeah, I think the flexibility is certainly always attractive," Angelichio said. "When you’ve got a guy who can have multiple roles and he can help on special teams… you have flexibility to be able to put him in the backfield and move him around so the defense can’t focus in on one area."

Overall, the Steelers view Bernard as a movable piece who can be lined up in different alignments and potentially contribute in a variety of ways. That positional flexibility, along with his ability to handle multiple responsibilities, helped justify the decision to trade up and secure him before another team had the chance.

Bernard’s Versatility Gives Steelers Multiple Ways To Use Him

Bernard’s college career shows exactly why the Steelers were intrigued by his flexibility. During his time in college, he was used all over the offense, including snaps lined up in the Wildcat to create matchup problems and add another layer to the game plan. That kind of usage highlights how comfortable he is operating in different roles, not just as a traditional wide receiver, but as a movable piece who can be deployed in creative ways depending on the situation.

On top of that offensive versatility, Bernard also brings value on special teams. During his time with Michigan State and Washington, he contributed as a returner on both kickoffs and punts, giving him another potential avenue to see the field early in Pittsburgh if the coaching staff wants to test him there. 

The Steelers may be cautious about that approach after what happened with Kaleb Johnson in his rookie season, which could make them more selective about how quickly they expose Bernard in that phase of the game.

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