Eli Heidenreich

NFL teams are signing second-round draft picks at a much faster pace than last year. The latest is new Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard, who put pen to paper on Monday, per a team announcement.

Pittsburgh traded up six spots to draft Bernard with the 47th overall pick to ensure they would land a desired receiver prospect after narrowly missing out on USC’s Makai Lemon in the first round. They landed a versatile, all-around wideout with good size (6-foot-1, 206 pounds) and a solid athletic profile who should quickly carve out a role in Mike McCarthy‘s new offense.

Bernard started at Alabama for the last two years after a tertiary role at Washington in 2023, all under Kalen DeBoer. His production grew throughout his college career and peaked in his final season with team-highs of 64 receptions and 862 receiving yards, plus nine total touchdowns. Though he lined up primarily on the outside in 2025, 46.5% of his snaps over the last three years have come out of the slot, which will help him earn playing time in a receiver room that already features boundary stalwarts D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman. The 22-year-old can also contribute as a blocker, gadget player, or returner – all roles he held at Alabama – giving the Steelers plenty of ways to deploy him on offense and special teams. 

The Falcons signed No. 48 pick Avieon Terrell to a fully-guaranteed contract, which should result in a similar deal for Bernard. He will receive $10.54MM over the next four years ($2.64MM AAV) with a signing bonus over $4MM, per OverTheCap.

The Steelers also signed seventh-round pick (No. 230 overall) Eli Heidenreich to his four-year rookie deal, worth a total of $4.54MM. His only guarantees will be a signing bonus in the range of $150k.

Heidenreich, classified as a running back/wide receiver in Pittsburgh’s announcement, was a dynamic part of Navy’s triple-option offense for the last three years. In 2025, he accounted for 55.6% of the Midshipmen’s receiving yards while also taking 77 carries for 499 rushing yards (6.5 yards per attempt). He tested extremely well at the Combine, but his unique college offense raised questions about his ability to translate to the NFL. The Steelers took a shot on the 22-year-old, who, like Bernard, could factor in the return game or with manufactured touches on offense.