Germie Bernard

Didn't someone on here post something like "if you see your man on the board you go get him, you don't wait"?

 

I like the pick and where we took him.

 

To me, Germie Bernard is the best player the Steelers got from this draft. Not just because he is a Wide Receiver either. Germie Bernard can do the one major thing that Makai Lemon couldn't do; defeat press coverage at the LOS. For those of you who have followed me, I have sounded like a broken record player throughout this entire draft cycle about this very key ingredient. "Why does something so small matter so much?" ... I hear you asking. The answer lies within the positions own responsibility; to get open. That includes at the LOS. Receivers who have showcased this tool of the trade consistently are often put outside given how that is where some of the biggest and therefore baddest dudes at the Cornerback Position reside. Not only that, the average starting NFL Corner vs the average starting Collegiate Corner is no different than measuring the gap that betwixt heaven and earth; immense to put it lightly. For Germie, defeating press is something that he is capable of due to his superior strength and ability to setup his opponents.


The good doesn't stop there. Say hello to arguably the most scheme versatile wideout in the entire 2026 NFL Draft. Only Carnell Tate, K.C. Concepcion and Omar Cooper rival him. Any Offense will be an Offense that Bernard can work with; even Offenses that require Receiving Targets to get open really fast such as the Air Coryell Offense. Germie may not have the speed to separate but his contested catch ability coupled with his ability to stack Corners during the Route will allow him to do so. He isn't just scheme versatile either. Say hello to arguably the best YAC man in the entire class; regardless of position. Again, only K.C. Concepcion and Carnell Tate are his equals. From using him on long sweep plays to him being difficult to take down, Germie not only brings short to intermediate value to a team in the passing game but can get a team some extra yards while he is at it.


His best trait though comes down to how balanced he is overall. Outside of Carnell Tate, there really isn't a more balanced overall Receiver in the class. Again, he does not possess K.C.'s, Omar's, Jordyn's or even Brazzell's speed, K.C.s, Zacaraiah's, or even Omar's acceleration, Denzel's, Carnell's, or even Malachai's Catch Radius. All of that is fine. What he lacks in having any major particular physical attribute and/or tremendous trait, he more than makes up for with his scheme versatility, advanced toolbox as a Wideout and most importantly, his consistency and reliability to obtain YAC; no matter how he is deployed in game.


For Pittsburgh, it has been what appears to be an eternity since a Receiver had such versatility and capability. Some say Diontae Johnson but Diontae wasn't nearly as consistent nor reliable overall. For me, my comparison was a turbocharged Jarvis Landry. Jarvis turned his career into a rock solid one and was successful overall. Given how Pittsburgh has not had a dependable YAC based WR since Year Two JuJu Smith Schuster, Germie will become a fan favorite before long.. if he already isn't already.


I give this pick an A+.

 

When I was reading about Germie pre-draft the words that leaped off the page to me were "the QB always knows where he is at on the field". Aaron Rodgers values that ability more than anything, that is what put Roman Wilson in the doghouse. Rodgers had no idea where he was on the field when Wilson ran a pattern.

 

Germie will be his QBs best friend; no matter who the QB is. Ideally Aaron so that Drew can learn though.

 

I was more so specifically speaking from the receiving alignment perspective; not YAC.

 

I watched a video yesterday, I forget who, but was talking about his abilities as a route runner. How well he knows how to set up a DB and understands the game within the game. Showed how precise he is and how that allows him to gain separation.

 

Wasn't around here during last year's draft but how many of yinz said Roman Wilson was a good value? Considering the Steelers just drafted potential replacements I'd say he was poor value.

Point is we don't know squat until a player gets on the field (or doesn't).

 

Perry hasn't played since 2023, the year he was a sixth-round pick by the Saints. He didn't do much that season, catching only 12 passes. He spent the last two seasons on the Broncos' practice squad. You continue to put way too much faith in guys the Steelers find on the scrap heap.

 

It seems like he might be Landry with better hands. Didn't Landry have occasional issues with drops?

 

Well I hope they didn't name their daughter with a manly name.

 

I actually think that he's better than Lemon, but we shall see.

 

Thanks for this!

I just like that when I read the reports on him, it says that he's one of the best route runners in the class.

And I always love seeing that about guys we pick.

Probably doubly important if Rodgers is our QB this year. Because he will shut your out if you aren't consistently where you're supposed to be when you are supposed to be there (see: Wilson, Roman). He wants to be able to throw it to guys without spending lots of time to look at them and see where they are to telegraph it to the D. This is probably why he's got such a low career INT%. 1.4% (Brady 1.8%, Manning 2.7%, Brees 2.3%, Ben 2.5%). It's also why I think he hasn't had a history of having rookie WRs thrive with him under center.

 

I am reading a number of folks around the internet that seem to agree with you.

Sounds like it comes to to speed and agility for both. Does Lemon have enough to overcome his lack of size/strength against bigger NFL competition? Does Bernard have enough to open up consistent separation?

I do not have a clue. I'm just some dude that reads things on the internet.

 

I'm no draft expert but from what I've read, I think they are both guys who's ceilings are WR2.

I'd rather get that guy at 47 than 21.