With the NFL Combine beginning this week, the upcoming wide receiver class will be at the forefront for the Buffalo Bills. There is always the avenue of free agency or a trade to upgrade the position group, but being able to have a team-friendly, cost-controlled player and contract is always attractive.
General manager Brandon Beane hasn't shied away from making a blockbuster trade before, but with a soft revamp of the team and personnel likely on the horizon, holding onto draft picks might be the preferred strategy this year. Germie Bernard, out of Alabama, projects to be the exact kind of playmaker the Bills have been looking for on offense.
Alabama WR Germie Bernard 2026 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Height: 6'1
Weight: 204 lbs
Expected 40-yard dash: 4.50-4.59
Recruiting: 4-star recruit in the class of 2022, No. 239 nationally
College Production: 155 receptions, 2,203 receiving yards, 184 rushing yards,18 total touchdowns in 39 career games
Strengths
- Great ability to accelerate and break tackles after the catch.
- Has shown he is able to line up in many different positions on an offense, including the boundary, slot and even the backfield.
- Good size and good hands, which helps him win contested catches.
- Possesses rare field vision for a receiver, similar to that of a running back.
- Smooth route runner for his frame and playing style
Germie Bernard took some time to find his footing at the collegiate level, previously playing for Michigan State and Washington before settling in at Alabama. Following his coach, Kalen DeBoer, Bernard solidified his game with the Crimson Tide, proving to be a true Swiss-Army Knife offensive threat that tests any and all types of defenses.
Weaknesses
- Lacks great hand fighting needed to consistently win against press coverage.
- Can be prone to dropping the ball when working into the hashes.
- Only an average feel for finding open space in zone coverage.
- Has good play speed, but isn't a burner.
Germie Bernard NFL Player Comparison: Deebo Samuel
Bernard does fit the mold of the gadget-type player that has increased in the NFL ever since the emergence of his pro comparison in Deebo Samuel, but he has much more to his game than just being able to line up in different positions on the field. The Alabama product can be a threat to defenses downfield as well, proving to be a true playmaker at all three levels of the ball in college.
Bernard's Fit with the Buffalo Bills
The Bills have been looking for a true "Z" receiver ever since the departure of Stefon Diggs years ago, and Bernard could fill that void seamlessly in this current offensive scheme. Joshua Palmer was signed last offseason to fill this type of role, but injuries prevented him from truly carving out a reliable spot on the offense in his first year with the team. Adding Bernard would only help the versatility of the offense and give Josh Allen another weapon.
Germie Bernard NFL Draft Grade: Mid-Late Round 2
Despite not having as much external hype as other previous receiver classes, this year's crop of talent is deep, with a strong possibility of five wideouts going in the first round. Germie Bernard will fall slightly because of his positionless game and lack of a truly elite trait. Because of this, it's likely that Bernard falls into the pool of Day 2 players, but he won't be on the board much longer after the top receivers join new teams.