The Pittsburgh Steelers were given a price to beat to land a starting-caliber wide receiver at the trade deadline, but they weren't willing to offer it. Josh Downs, the player they've had their eye on for weeks and reportedly called about, was ultimately traded to the Kansas City Chiefs just before the NFL deadline.
And while many fans are left disappointed, this might be a great sign for the Steelers' confidence in rookie wideout Germie Bernard.
The Chiefs send the Colts a 2027 fourth-round pick and a 2027 fifth-round pick for Downs. Because the Steelers didn't have a fourth-round pick in the upcoming draft, they likely would have needed to offer a third-rounder, which was obviously too rich for Omar Khan's blood.
While the notable draft capital clearly played a role, Khan's decision to pass on exceeding the offer to the Colts for Downs is a great sign for Bernard.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are counting on rookie WR Germie Bernard to be a major contributor down the stretch
For years, we've been begging the Pittsburgh Steelers to develop and play the young guys they draft. Under the Mike Tomlin regime, the Steelers seemed too content to keep their rookies off the field in favor of unspectacular veterans.
Now the Steelers are finally leaning on their young talent, and we certainly can't complain. And Bernard is a good football player.
Though it took the second-round pick roughly a month to get his feet wet and earn notable playing time, he's been a steady contributor since. Since Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts, Bernard has earned 25 receptions on 33 targets for 235 yards and a touchdown.
In Week 6, against a solid Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, Bernard even flashed the ability to be the Steelers' go-to option in the passing game when he raked in 11 catches on 12 targets for 87 yards and a score in the win.
Like Downs for the Colts, Bernard does some of his best work from the slot. He's not a burner, but he's a smooth mover, and with the ball in his hands, he can break tackles and chew up extra yards after the catch.
The best part is that he should only get better from here. The 22-year-old is already proving to be a weapon for the offense, and it's comforting knowing that he won't have to take a backseat in the offense. Even when Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson return to the field, Bernard should be the team's No. 2 receiver, and his plus blocking ability should earn him the spot as the wideout on the field in 12 personnel (two receiver sets).
Bernard may not have elite upside, but the strategy here is simple: If you give the rookie plenty of experience now, he should be all the better for it late in the season and into the playoffs, where his contributions will matter most.
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