The Falcons have identified receiver as a position of need going into the draft. Alabama’s Germie Bernard is among the wideouts on their radar. They hosted Bernard on Wednesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Falcons are devoid of a first-round pick after trading it to move up for James Pearce Jr. in 2025, but it would be a surprise to see Bernard go that high. The Falcons are scheduled to make their first choice at No. 48 in the second round, where Bernard could be a possibility. Dane Brugler of The Athletic and Daniel Jeremiah of The Athletic rank Bernard 41st and 50th, respectively, in this year’s class.
Bernard is a pro-ready prospect who profiles as a second or third receiver in the NFL, per Brugler, which is something Atlanta is lacking. The Falcons have a stud No. 1 in Drake London (who should land a mega-extension soon). Running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts also eat up a lot of targets, but the Falcons’ receiving corps is underwhelming beyond London.
The free agent additions of Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus gave the Falcons some insurance before the draft, though general manager Ian Cunningham could bring in someone with more upside. Dotson caught fewer than 20 passes in each of the previous two seasons in Philadelphia, while Zaccheaus averaged just 8.0 yards per reception during a 39-catch 2025 in Chicago.
Bernard played for three different schools in four college seasons. After a seven-catch freshman year at Michigan State, he experienced an uptick in production at Washington in 2023. As part of a crowded receiving corps led by Rome Odunze, Ja’lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan, Bernard pulled in 34 catches for 419 yards and two touchdowns. His quarterback that year was Michael Penix Jr., who is now entering his third season with the Falcons. Bernard and Penix could reunite in Atlanta, though the latter will have to beat out Tua Tagovailoa for the starting job.
Bernard followed head coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama in 2024, and the 6-foot-1, 206-pounder’s output improved significantly in Tuscaloosa. He notched 50 receptions, 794 yards and two scores in 13 games his first year with the Crimson Tide. Bernard wrapped up his college tenure with personal bests in catches (64), yards (862) and TDs (seven) over 14 games in 2025.