Pittsburgh Steelers second-round pick Germie Bernard has impressed coaches and observers during rookie minicamp, OTAs and mandatory minicamp. The Alabama wide receiver, selected at No. 47 overall after a trade-up, is viewed as pro-ready by those who have watched him practice.
The Athletic's Mike DeFabo highlighted Bernard's consistency on the practice field. “This is a polished receiver that you could see being a really useful piece in this offense,” DeFabo said. He noted Bernard's reliable hands and limited drops over recent seasons.
Bernard has adapted quickly to head coach Mike McCarthy's scheme, which requires receivers to line up at multiple spots. His experience at three college programs appears to have aided his transition to the NFL playbook.
The biggest remaining challenge for the rookie is building chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Training camp at Saint Vincent will provide the next test as Bernard looks to translate his offseason work into game action.