When the Pittsburgh Steelersdrafted wide receiver Germie Bernard, they traded up with the Indianapolis Colts to do it. The move made one thing clear: the Steelers believe in this receiver. Bernard projects as a player who can fill multiple spots in the receiver corps, and Pittsburgh finally has a receiver room with real depth. The team traded for Michael Pittman Jr. and still has DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson on the roster. Wilson and Bernard are expected to compete for the WR3 job, but if Wilson wins that job early, don't count Bernard out. In fact, one insider says to bank on Bernard making an impact late in the year.
Ray Fittipaldo joined 93.7 The Fan and discussed the outlook for Bernard. He may not contribute early, but that could change quickly.
"I'm really high on Bernard, but you know how [Steelers] are with rookies," Fittipaldo said via 93.7 The Fan. "I think he's gonna be worked into the lineup a little bit slower. And I think he'll probably be a guy you see a lot more in October and November and December than September."
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Bernard Needs to Earn the Trust of His Quarterback
The Steelers tend to bring rookies along slowly, and quarterback Aaron Rodgersrelies heavily on veteran receivers. That reliance may partly explain why Wilson saw a reduced role last year, compounded by a limited Arthur Smith offense. It took years for receivers like Randall Cobb and Davante Adams to earn Rodgers' trust, but once that chemistry developed, it paid off quickly. Bernard could reach that same result by working through the process.
Earning Rodgers' trust could take Bernard some time, and it may not happen fully in his rookie season. Last year, general manager Omar Khan had to bring in Marquez Valdes-Scantling and Adam Thielen to build adequate receiver depth after Metcalf missed multiple games due to suspension and Calvin Austin III missed time with a shoulder injury. If Bernard can do anything now, it's showing the promise he displayed at Alabama when training camp opens in a few weeks.
Bernard Can Lean on His Two Veteran Receivers
Bernard has an opportunity that Wilson didn't: two well-established veteran wide receivers who know what it takes to be a true WR1. Bernard's ceiling remains unknown this early in his career, but beyond putting in the work, he can soak up as much knowledge as possible from these two. Metcalf and Pittman entered the league only a year apart, and while their skill sets differ, they complement each other well.
Time will tell if Bernard can carve out an early role in his rookie season. Many expect head coach Mike McCarthy to run a heavier pass attack, which makes it plausible that Bernard's role could exceed what rookies saw under the previous regime. Some once speculated that Juju Smith-Schuster wouldn't have a big role in his rookie season. That speculation proved wrong, and it worked out well for both Smith-Schuster and the Steelers.
