Steelers Officially Trade Up In The Second Round To Take Dynamic WR

The Pittsburgh Steelers did not have a great reaction after the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. While selecting offensive tackle Max Iheanachor at Pick 21 was not a bad move, the optics of the team not trading up for the guy it truly wanted is not good at all. If the lineman develops properly, this will all be forgotten, but that will take time. For now, there is still a somewhat sour taste left in the mouths of the fans and organization. The franchise still had 11 picks going into Friday to keep boosting the roster, however. 

There were plenty of rumors that the Steelers were looking to trade up in the second round, and this time, they did not let that opportunity pass them by. 

They have officially traded with the Indianapolis Colts to move up to Pick #47, where they have officially selected Germie Bernard.

The Steelers luckily did not have to give up a ton of draft capital to make this move, and they still have plenty to work with, including some capital in the third round to get another potential starting-caliber player. Bernard is a shifty route-runner that should fit in well with the current receiving corps.

This time, Khan refused to watch another team steal the man he wanted, and he was proactive in getting his guy. This will likely turn out to be a great move for Pittsburgh as it looks towards the future. The Steelers needed more dynamic wideouts, and Bernard is a sneaky selection that could absolutely pan out for the organization.

Like Iheanachor, neither this draft pick nor any others eventually selected will likely begin training camp with pole position of the starting job barring injuries. Every incoming rookie will have to earn every single snap they get. Eventually, as long as they grow like the Steelers expect them too, they will be able to earn the ability to start as early as the middle of the season.

Bernard has a unique opportunity to step in and immediately play if he has a good training camp. Pittsburgh needs a solid young wide receiver to join the unit, and the Alabama product is a solid pick-up.

Steelers Are Likely Not Done With Making Trades

The Steelers are still an aggressive team. They could trade down and get some of that draft capital back, make a move to get more selections for the 2027 draft, or even make another trade up. They still have plenty of choices to play with before the event ends on Saturday night. With Khan running the show, none of those options are ever truly out of the question. He will continue to work the phones for sure. 

What do you think about the Steelers trading up in the second round to get the guy they truly wanted this time? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.

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