The Mike McCarthy-led Steelers have retooled their WR room this offseason, first acquiring Michael Pittman Jr. via trade and then trading up to spend a second-round pick on Alabama WR Germie Bernard.
GERMIE BERNARD
- Bernard was quiet as a freshman at Michigan State, then filled the WR4 role on a loaded Michael Penix Jr.-led Washington team with Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk, and Jalen McMillan leading the way in the Huskies’ pass game. He followed Kalen DeBoer to Alabama and led the Crimson Tide in receptions in each of his final two seasons in college. He trailed Ryan Williams production-wise in 2024 before usurping him as a senior, hauling in 64 balls for 862 yards and seven touchdowns. Dane Brugler referred to Bernard as “just a good football player” who is strong at the catch point and plays hard through contact. He boasts NFL size at 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds and runs a 4.48 40-yard dash. He also led the NFL Combine with a 6.71 three-cone time. He may not have a true standout skill, but he seems like a jack-of-all-trades wideout who has the tools to succeed in the pros.
- The Steelers’ offense will look different in 2026 after enduring Arthur Smith for the past two seasons. Former Vikings pass-game coordinator Brian Angelichio is the new offensive coordinator under head coach Mike McCarthy, and the Steelers have prioritized WR this offseason with the additions of Bernard and Michael Pittman Jr. (who they traded for and then extended). After deploying heavy multi-TE usage under Smith, we likely see a return to more 3-WR sets for Pittsburgh in 2026. As mentioned, PIT just traded for and extended Pittman, and DK Metcalf remains the WR1 here despite a relatively quiet 2025 campaign. Pittman isn’t an exciting option, but he has consistently commanded targets, and he still led Colts WRs with a 20.4% target share despite a down 2025. Bernard likely slots in as the WR3 here.
- We don’t know who will be Pittsburgh’s quarterback in 2026. Aaron Rodgers is keeping the Steelers in purgatory, having not announced his plans yet, so Will Howard and Mason Rudolph sit atop the depth chart. For now, we’re assuming Rodgers is probably back, though that’s definitely not a certainty at this point. Rodgers played passably last year and is clearly an upgrade over Howard and Rudolph.
OTHER STEELERS PASS CATCHERS
- This is a death knell for former second-round pick Roman Wilson. Among fantasy-relevant WRs, Metcalf remains the top dog here, but he posted a career-low 850 yards last season, and his 21.1% seasonal target share was slightly disappointing, given he had minimal target competition. Adding Bernard docks his volume projection slightly, but he should remain the WR1 here.
- Pittman has always been volume-reliant, failing to top 7.4 yards per target in four consecutive seasons, and the Colts clearly believed the Alec Pierce breakout made Pittman expendable. With legit target competition from Metcalf, Bernard, Pat Freiermuth, and Jaylen Warren, Pittman likely struggles to be a consistent fantasy option, given his lack of downfield playmaking ability. He’s a useful real-life NFL receiver, and Pittsburgh just gave him a new three-year deal worth $59 million, but this projects as a slow (assuming Rodgers is the QB) offense with multiple pro-caliber pass catchers.
