Former NFL lineman Taylor Lewan called Pittsburgh Steelers' second-round pick Germie Bernard the 'steal of the 2026 NFL Draft,' while ESPN's Benjamin Solak dubbed him a 'quarterback’s best friend.' The Alabama product complements DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. in Mike McCarthy's offense.
As covered in our ongoing series on the Steelers' pursuit of Germie Bernard, which culminated in trading up to No. 47 overall, additional analysts have raved about the versatile wide receiver. On the Bussin’ with the Boys podcast, ex-Titans tackle Taylor Lewan compared Bernard's frame, ball skills, balance, and physicality to A.J. Brown, calling him a perfect fit for Pittsburgh's gritty style. ESPN analyst Benjamin Solak went further, labeling Bernard an 'offensive coordinator’s best friend' due to his elite blocking, route-running, reliable hands, and yards-after-catch ability. Solak likened him to Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, projecting immediate slot contributions alongside Metcalf and Pittman under first-year head coach McCarthy. Bernard's dual-threat profile—64 receptions for 862 yards and seven TDs, plus 18 rushes for 101 yards and two scores in his final college year—underscores his toughness. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has placed an undrafted free agent tag on Aaron Rodgers amid QB uncertainty, potentially pairing him with the dynamic receiver group.
