The Pittsburgh Steelers had an embarrassing moment involving wide receiver Makai Lemon in round one of the 2026 NFL Draft, but they managed to correct that misstep early on night two, selecting Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard.
“No. 47 pick is in: Steelers have selected Alabama WR Germie Bernard, per sources,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported on the evening of April 24.
Schultz then followed up with another post, adding: “So after the debacle with Makai Lemon, the Steelers get a WR in Round 2 with Germie Bernard.”
On the surface, this looks like a bit of a downgrade for the Steelers, but that may not be the case. Pittsburgh steadied the left tackle position on night one, bringing in a high-upside offensive tackle in Max Iheanachor, and now they’ve upgraded at WR3.
NFL insider James Palmer provided a positive take on the Bernard pick on April 24.
Palmer wrote: “A high-level scout told me of Germie Bernard. He said that every year, it seems like everyone is searching for the next Deebo [Samuel]. Ball in hand guys, thick and strong, and have RB qualities. He said he usually hates those guys for the [NFL] because they usually lack WR traits and can’t run great routes. But he said Bernard can run routes and has some true upside as a WR. They didn’t throw him a lot of second-level routes, but you see him sink his hips and break people off. It’s there.”
So, Bernard has some of those Deebo Samuel traits, is bigger than Lemon at 6-foot-1, and the Steelers solved two of their biggest roster needs.
An early “debacle,” indeed, but perhaps a blessing in disguise.
Eagles Jumped Steelers for Makai Lemon on Night 1 of NFL Draft
On April 23, the Steelers had Lemon in their sights, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. Unfortunately, they were foiled by the Philadelphia Eagles.
“The Dallas Cowboys were on the clock at 20, with everyone knowing they were going defense,” Rapoport relayed after the dramatic turn of events.
“Pittsburgh Steelers get on the phone with Makai Lemon, planning to select him next at 21,” the insider went on. “Except what they didn’t know is the Eagles actually traded up over them. They were trying to get in touch with Lemon, but he wasn’t answering because he was already on the phone with the Steelers.”
Rapoport concluded that “in the end, the Eagles do the trade, they get Makai Lemon. And the Steelers grab a tackle right after.”
Scouting on New Steelers WR Germie Bernard After Draft News
Bernard was the seventh-ranked wide receiver on Dane Brugler’s pre-draft guide with The Athletic, nicknamed “The Beast.” He’s 22 years old and turns 23 on December 2.
Brugler gave Bernard a second-round grade, so the Steelers didn’t reach on him. The draft expert noted that he is “just a good football player, with a well-rounded, pro-ready skill set.”
“[Bernard] is a good-sized athlete who can gear up and down with ease and plays just as comfortably along the sideline as when attacking the middle of the field,” Brugler continued. “It will be more challenging for him to create separation versus NFL corners, but he is a natural at addressing the football and competes with the toughness to play through contact.”
He also added that Bernard “projects as a starting Z receiver and as an NFL team’s second- or third option.”
As mentioned above, Bernard is just a shade over 6-foot-1, and ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash. He also managed a 6.71-second three-cone time and a 4.31-second short shuttle time.
Steelers Draft New Wide Receiver After Embarrassing ‘Debacle’