Germie Bernard? Why There’s A Growing Belief The Bears Covet The Alabama WR
When the offseason began, nobody had wide receiver circled as a position the Chicago Bears would be considering in the 2026 NFL draft. It was all about the defensive line, left tackle, and safety. However, things took a turn last month when general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson made the difficult decision to trade D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills. While it was necessary due to cap constraints, it opened a void in the receiver lineup. Though the Bears did sign veteran Kalif Raymond to help fill it, they still have depth concerns. Enter Germie Bernard.
SM mentioned the Alabama wide receiver as someone the organization had its eyes on. Johnson is a big fan of his game, despite his production never standing out compared to that of previous Crimson Tide legends. Benjamin Solak of ESPN has no trouble seeing the fit. What Bernard lacks in explosiveness, he makes up for in versatility.
But he does everything well — and I mean everything. Bernard will dig out a linebacker to spring a handoff on one play, stretch a safety to open another route on the next play, grind out some tough YAC on an RPO on another play, and then cut up a mean route to separate downfield on the next play. Look at the stopping power and upfield displacement he gets on this block against Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff. This matters for light personnel teams that need their wide receivers to contribute in the running game…
…Think about what Jauan Jennings has been for the 49ers over the past few seasons. That’s the sort of role Bernard can fill right away, with the potential to become a Jakobi Meyers-esque stick mover over time. Bernard to the Bears or Vikings on Day 2? Perfect fits.
We know Johnson prioritizes two things in his receivers: route-running and run-blocking. Bernard excels in both areas. If the Bears wish to focus on left tackle or the defensive line in the 1st round, then targeting Bernard in the 2nd makes plenty of sense.
Germie Bernard is the type of player who always has a long NFL career.
It’s more about substance than flash. For every Ja’Marr Chase who overwhelms defenses with his speed and athleticism, there are a myriad of players who are just okay in both areas but manage to carve out roles in offenses because they work hard to master their craft. Every detail matters, from running routes to blocking assignments. Bernard is that type of player. He draws comparisons to former Buffalo Bills 2nd round pick Robert Woods. He, too, was considered average-sized and not overly fast.
However, he was a technician who understood how to create separation. Coaches love his consistency. As a result, he cracked at least 500 yards in ten seasons, including back-to-back over 1,000 in 2018 and 2019. He was a big contributor to the Los Angeles Rams’ Super Bowl championship team in 2021. Go back through NFL history, and you’ll find plenty of receivers like this who find success.
- Golden Tate
- Rod Smith
- Henry Ellard
- Art Monk
- Fred Biletnikoff
Some of those guys are in the Hall of Fame for what they accomplished. It’s not always about the big plays.
Bernard would actually be a particularly good fit with Caleb Williams.
One of the issues Johnson mentioned that he wanted to fix for next season was wide receivers being better in the scramble drill. A persistent issue that popped up from time to time was Bears players not doing a good enough job when Caleb Williams left the pocket and tried to make something happen. That requires being aware of your surroundings and making adjustments on the fly. Recognize where your quarterback is going and look for open space to create a window.
This is something Germie Bernard was really good at during his time in college, even though he didn’t play with a true scrambler like Williams. Remember, Johnson has said his primary goal is to add good football players. He’s willing to sacrifice a bit in the upside department if he feels the guys they’re drafting can get it done on the field. That is what led them to Kyle Monangai last year. It’s the same with Bernard. Watch his name carefully in the 2nd round late this month.