One of ESPN’s many alternative draft coverage options featured one of the network’s newer faces, Ben Solak, formerly of The Ringer. Solak spent the draft breaking down film and providing in-depth analysis of prospects and their fit with their new teams. That included the second-round selection of Alabama WR Germie Bernard.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who hosted the 2026 NFL Draft outside Acrisure Stadium, traded up from No. 53 to No. 48 on Friday night to select Bernard, coming off a 64-catch, 862-yard final season with the Crimson Tide. And while he may not be the long-term No. 1 the Steelers need, he looks to be an immediate upgrade and the rare young receiver who may actually play his way into Aaron Rodgers’ good graces.
Germie Bernard is a QB’s best friend, and to play with Aaron Rodgers, he better be
For some inexplicable reason, the Steelers are bending over backwards to bring Aaron Rodgers back to Pittsburgh for his age-43 season. While the issues with that team-building strategy are numerous, one of the biggest problems with Rodgers late in his career has been his unwillingness to trust and develop young wide receivers.
Rodgers, especially as he becomes more sensitive to pressure, unwilling to take hits, and unable to escape them, needs to know where his wide receivers are going to be at all times. That trust factor is one of the reasons 35-year-old Adam Thielen played meaningful snaps for the Steelers down the stretch last season.
Now, Rodgers, assuming he does in fact sign up for Year 2 in Pittsburgh, has veteran pass-catchers in DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., whom the Steelers swung a trade for earlier this offseason.
Still, the Steelers need a young option in their WR room, and they’ve tapped Germie Bernard to fill that void. So now, the former Tide WR faces the difficult task of ingratiating himself with one of the league’s most well-established curmudgeons. Solak seems to think he will.
“Germie Bernard is a quarterback’s best friend. He’s an offensive coordinator’s best friend because he blocks, he runs great routes, and he catches the football reliably,” Solak ended his breakdown on Friday night after detailing two impressive plays from his time in Tuscaloosa.
I was a big fan of Alabama WR Germie Bernard throughout the process. Dirty work receiver who does the little stuff right. Very QB friendly.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) April 28, 2026
Steelers got a three-down receiver and a great fit next to DK Metcalf. pic.twitter.com/7UwszfVIoZ
It’s malpractice to fit your draft picks around a quarterback on the cusp of his 43rd birthday who is not technically signed to your team. However, Steelers brass undoubtedly had Rodgers in mind when making the Bernard pick. He’ll create after the catch on quick throws, he’ll be where the future Hall of Fame QB needs him to be, and maybe most importantly, those skills translate to any quarterback, including whatever young one Pittsburgh looks to develop after Rodgers finally calls it a career.
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