Steelers' Germie Bernard Has 1 Captivating Part Of His Game That Will Allow Him To Shine

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a huge stack of picks at their disposal in the 2026 NFL Draft. The team wanted to add some young talent to the offense and made the move to trade up in the second round to nab a receiver who is seemingly NFL-ready. University of Alabama pass-catcher Germie Bernard, a four-year player in college, will have the chance to really carve out a role for himself within the Pittsburgh offense. Bernard is one of the rookies who appears to be in the Steelers' current plans for the team, and his all-around abilities jumped out to many. 

The Steelers' offense lacked a ton of firepower in 2025, with the wide receiver depth being a glaring issue. With DK Metcalf, and the addition of Michael Pittman Jr. through trade this offseason, the Black and Gold have built themselves quite a talented group. Though Bernard hasn't seen any pro action just yet, behind Metcalf and Pittman, he could become a solid third option. Bernard will have a chance to showcase that he is fit for the spot early in the upcoming training camp period, and based on the second-round pick used on him, it looks to be possible.

Bernard has plenty of skills in various areas. He's a terrific run blocker, has big hands, and is a capable route runner. Though he doesn't have blazing speed, he's very quick and agile in his movements. However, there is one aspect of his game that Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Christopher Carter outlined in an episode of the Locked On Steelers podcast that shouldn't go unnoticed. 

"I do think Germie Bernard has the interesting footwork aspect where I think he can be a guy who gets off the line of scrimmage well, maybe beats the press, and then gets his routes a bit smoother than maybe some other guys," Carter said. 

Bernard has been working with the RouteGod this offseason to prepare for his highly anticipated rookie campaign. He'll be a different type of receiver compared to those aforementioned, and that could give Pittsburgh a more dynamic look compared to 2025, which will help open up the playbook and keep defenses on their heels. 

Bernard had a very interesting stat line during his senior year as a member of the Crimson Tide. He logged 64 receptions, 862 receiving yards, with seven receiving touchdowns, and scored two times on the ground. The wideout lined up in multiple spots in the formation, even out of the backfield. He'll be a versatile weapon in the new Steel City offense, which will only help him get more playing time. 

The footwork and route running will help him separate from defenders. Though he ran a respectable 4.48-second 40-yard dash, he isn't necessarily a deep ball threat. That's perfectly fine in an offense that features one of the NFL's best at that skill, Metcalf, and that could give Aaron Rodgers a dependable target in the short-to-intermediate game. Bernard could be in for a big rookie year and is continuing to put in the work to be ready for what the professional game throws at him. 

Bernard Has To Prove He Can Be The WR3 For The Steelers

It's usually difficult for a rookie to come out and play at an elite level immediately, but Pittsburgh doesn't have a ton behind their two clear stars, Metcalf and Pittman. Roman Wilson will have an opportunity to prove he can be a reliable weapon, but after a weird year where he was a healthy scratch at some points, Bernard could run away with being a more primary target. 

Wilson has had a rocky start to his NFL career, and training camp will prove if he has gotten over the hump, or if he'll be beaten by Bernard. Either way, both will be a part of the offense; the question is just how much?

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