The Steelers’ wide receiver three job is shaping up as one of the more interesting fights in training camp, but the race may not be as even as it looks on paper.
With DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr. already set as Aaron Rodgers’ top two targets, Pittsburgh is left sorting out the next name in line. The two players in the mix are second-round pick Germie Bernard and former third-round pick Roman Wilson, and both are trying to claim what should be a valuable role in the offense.
Still, this feels like Bernard’s job to lose.
Pittsburgh traded up in the second round of the most recent draft to grab Bernard out of Alabama, and that kind of investment matters. The Steelers clearly believe he can help right away, and his skill set gives him a strong case before camp even gets rolling.
He changes direction smoothly, has a powerful lower body, and brings more speed than he’s often credited for. Once he starts going against NFL defensive backs, that burst should show up fast.
Bernard also gives quarterbacks a dependable target. His hands stand out, and he looks like the kind of receiver who can make himself easy to trust.
Then there’s the part that could really separate him: what happens after the catch. Bernard is dangerous with the ball in his hands, whether that’s on jet sweeps or working from the backfield, and the Deebo Samuel comparisons speak to how much damage he can do once the ball is secured.
Yards after the catch will be a major part of his case for the job.
Wilson still has a path, though, and it starts with Rodgers.
His first real NFL season was underwhelming, even though he did catch his first touchdown. The bigger issue was that he never seemed to click with Rodgers.
That could be changing. This offseason, Wilson may have taken a real step forward, and Rodgers even invited him to a getaway he and several receivers recently took.
If that relationship carries over onto the field, Wilson can absolutely make this a fight. At that point, Rodgers’ trust could matter more than Bernard’s draft status or his flashier traits.
If the veteran quarterback believes Wilson more, that could settle everything, even if Bernard looks better in drills or flashes more talent. And Rodgers might end up trusting Wilson more as camp and the preseason unfold.
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