The Pittsburgh Steelers have a better idea of what their team is going to look like in 2026 now that the NFL Draft has concluded, and Pittsburgh selected 10 players throughout the event. Some questions have come up about whether or not the entire draft class is going to be able to make the active roster, and many doubt that some of the last picks will be able to crack the final 53. However, a player that is safe is second-round pick Germie Bernard. He should have no worries about losing a roster spot and he is primed to make an impact immediately.
Alysa Rubin / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) participates in team rookie minicamp at Steelers facilities in May of 2026.
Bernard addresses a big need for the Steelers as the team has struggled at the wide receiver position for quite some time now. He will fill in behind DK Metcalf and Michael Pittman Jr., and he will probably be fighting to earn snaps against third-year receiver Roman Wilson. He has been praised for his versatility on offense, as well as his downfield blocking. The coaching staff seems to love what they are getting in the rookie, and now it is getting to the time for him to sign his rookie contract.
The Steelers moved up a little bit in the second round to draft Bernard, and he was picked with the 47th overall selection. Things got a little more complicated on Thursday as the Atlanta Falcons and cornerback Avieon Terrell, the 48th overall pick, agreed to a fully-guaranteed contract.
The #Falcons have signed Avieon Terrell to a fully guaranteed contract. The 48th overall pick is the lowest pick to receive a fully guaranteed contract in a deal negotiated by @DavidMulugheta of @AthletesFirst. https://t.co/YFv8n7HObk
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 14, 2026
There was a time where it was only first-round picks receiving fully-guaranteed contracts, and that has slowly snuck into the top of the second round of the draft. The Falcons helped make history on Thursday by giving the lowest pick ever a fully-guaranteed contract, which the rest of the league cannot be happy about. This especially creates problems for the Steelers, as Bernard was the selection right before Terrell.
Karl Roser / Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard (17) works on drills during 2026 team rookie minicamp in the Steel City.
Bernard has not signed his rookie deal yet, but it should be expected within the next couple of weeks. He is probably going to have to be given a fully-guaranteed contract as he was the 47th overall selection. Every unsigned pick through the 48th selection is going to be fighting for the same thing, as well as some picks later on. This was usually something that was reserved for first-round picks only, but there is going to come a time when every selection in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft has their money fully guaranteed on their first contract.
The young wide receiver is going to sign eventually. Rookie holdouts aren't really a thing, it just might take a little bit longer than usual. Something like this happens every offseason, and this time it just so happens to have an impact on Pittsburgh.
Steelers Have Been In A Similar Spot Before
Pittsburgh has been here before with cornerback Joey Porter Jr. back when he was picked with the first pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He did not end up signing his rookie deal until the end of July, and that was because of a similar battle over guaranteed money.
AP photo
Pittsburgh Steelers star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (24) looks on during a practice in the Steel City.
There was an extra wrinkle with Porter's situation as well as a quarterback was drafted right after him, so Porter was not going to sign before the quarterback did. If the quarterback signed for big money, it would have increased the value of Porter's deal.
Do you think Bernard's contract is going to be an issue for the Steelers? Let me know on X, @brogannoey!
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