Max Iheanachor is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first-round draft choice. Drew Allar is the new quarterback from good ol’ State U. Eli Heidenreich is a hometown hero story.
And Gennings Dunker is a 300-pound hay-bale toss champion with a fabulous red mullet and bushy mustache.
Mullet in motion ???? @gennings_dunkerpic.twitter.com/kNkFmfl5J0
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 8, 2026
It’s no wonder second-round pick Germie Bernard may get lost in the mix as we all get to know this new crop of Steelers rookies. But for the year 2026, it’s entirely possible the wide receiver from Alabama is going to be the most important player of the draft class.
Maybe not for the duration of their careers in Pittsburgh, but for this upcoming season, Bernard has the most wide-open path to having a true impact on the Steelers’ season.
“I just knew, wherever I go (in the draft), I’m going to come in, work and compete and do my best to have an impact for the team in whatever way that I can,” Bernard said at this weekend’s rookie mini camp.
“Just continue to prepare, continue to stay in the playbook, continue to take care of my body. Just have fun, enjoy the moment.”
Germie Bernard is Deebo Samuel 2.0 ????pic.twitter.com/DPBi745nMA
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) May 1, 2026
Iheanachor could start right away at right tackle. But that would also mean flipping Troy Fautanu to the left side and displacing both Dylan Cook and Broderick Jones (if healthy). Being somewhat of a developmental pick, the Steelers may not be ready to do all that for Iheanachor out of the gates in 2026.
Dunker is also making a position switch from tackle to guard. Plus, he has to beat out Spencer Anderson for a starting spot. We have no idea where Allar will be on the QB depth chart, regardless of Aaron Rodgers’ contract status. And we have no idea if Heidenreich is even going to make the team.
Fourth-rounder Kaden Wetjen is primarily a return specialist. Fifth-rounder Riley Nowakowski is basically an H-back. Everyone else in the draft class has multiple people in front of them on the depth chart.
Meanwhile, new coach Mike McCarthy’s offense relies on at least three wide receivers quite a bit, and right now the Steelers only have two with any track record to speak of — DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr.
The only people standing between Bernard and the No. 3 receiver role are special-teams ace Ben Skowronek and Roman Wilson. The third-year receiver from Michigan has just 12 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns in two years.
“Football comes easy to him,” McCarthy said of Bernard on Saturday. “His understanding is very high. He doesn’t blink. I love his demeanor. You can see why his versatility in college definitely carries over. I think he’s been an excellent fit for us.”
It’s a bit surprising the Steelers didn’t address the wide receiver position earlier or more often in the draft. General manager Omar Khan tried to do that. But USC pass catcher Makai Lemon was swiped away at the last moment by Philadelphia at pick No. 20, one spot before the Steelers.
Khan was then either unable or unwilling to trade into the first round to get KC Concepcion or Omar Cooper Jr. De’Zhaun Stribling and Darnell Boston went before Bernard in the second round.
Only by that point did Khan feel comfortable enough trading up six spots to pick No. 47 to secure Bernard before anyone else could, as the eighth player at the position taken in the draft.
“It’s a great opportunity. Anywhere I went, it was going to be a blessing,” Bernard said. “I’m just thankful that the coaches were able to take that chance on me, and I’m going to come in and do everything that I can to have an impact.”
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Not only is Bernard’s path to playing time clear from a depth chart perspective, but his ability to play outside and from the slot also makes him a versatile option to move around whatever is designed for Pittman and Metcalf.
“When you first come into an offense, you want to learn everything,” Bernard said. “You want to be able to be versatile so you can have the most opportunities whenever that time comes. So that’s something that I’m working on — being able to know the ins and outs of the offense and all the receiver positions, so I can put myself in the best position to succeed.”
The learning curve shouldn’t be too steep for Bernard. He played at three different major programs in four years of college football. Between stops at Michigan State, Washington and Alabama, Bernard totaled 155 catches, 2,203 yards and 13 touchdowns.
“The best measure of future success is past success. I certainly think if guys are doing it at a high level, at a program like Alabama in a really competitive division on a national stage, usually you feel good about when they get here,” offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio said after Bernard was drafted. “It’s an adjustment, and what you do in college doesn’t guarantee you anything at this level. You have to go prove it every day. The one thing I do feel good about is Germie’s mindset. He’ll go prove it every day.”
In order for the Steelers to be successful on offense in 2026, more than anyone else in this draft class, that better be the case.