Chiefs draft profile: Why Germie Bernard feels like a classic floor-raising pick

The Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver corps is full of “ifs” right now. If Rashee Rice can stay out of trouble and focused. If Xavier Worthy can show more of what he showed on the back end of 2024. If Jalen Royals can develop into a role player, and if the Chiefs can retain Tyquan Thornton, it’s a promising group. However, that’s a lot of unknowns with a quarterback coming off a major knee injury.

The Chiefs made it clear that they weren’t satisfied with the development of their receivers by firing Connor Embree and hiring Chad O’Shea. The Chiefs are showing that the room needed more maturity, not just in the players but in the coaches as well.

There’s lots of flash at the receiver position, and there are certainly some names at the top of the draft that the Chiefs could take. However, there’s plenty of depth in the class as well. With so many needs around the rest of the roster and so much unknown about the current wide receiver room, another young, unproven rookie with a top-9 pick might not be the best answer.

To keep close tabs on the 2026 NFL Draft and the top prospects for the Kansas City Chiefs, make sure to bookmark our Arrowhead Addict Big Board. Our custom big board is tailored toward the Chiefs’ needs and thresholds.

NFL Draft Profile: Germie Bernard, Wide Receiver, Alabama

Age: 22 (on draft day)

Height: 6-1 (Listed)

Weight: 205 LBS. (Listed)

Tape Exposure: LSU (2025), Georgia (2025), Florida State (2025)

Shades of: Jarvis Landry

Germie Bernard's background

A native of Nevada, Bernard attended Liberty High School in Henderson, Nevada. He was graded as a four-star recruit via 247 Sports. Out of high school, he committed to Michigan State, where he played one season. After only playing in five games as a freshman, he entered the transfer portal and committed to Washington. He notably played behind Rome Odunze, Jalen McMillan, and Ja’Lynn Polk on the 2023 Washington team that competed for a national championship.

After 2023, Bernard followed his coach, Kalen DeBoer, to Alabama, where he was a full-time starter for his final two seasons. In two seasons for the Crimson Tide, he tallied 1,656 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, along with 138 rushing yards.

How Germie Bernard wins

Polished Game

It’s strange to describe a draft prospect as an “adult in the room,” but Bernard does all the little things well. He’s a refined route runner who paces his releases well and runs a well-developed route tree. His 2.6% drop rate ranks in the 98th percentile for receivers. He blocks well downfield and has been used as a jet sweep motion man as well.

Physicality

Bernard plays up to his size, fighting through contact at the line of scrimmage and at the catch point. He is a slightly above-average YAC weapon as well. He reads blocks well downfield and is quick enough in the open field.

Ability in Zone

Bernard has a natural feel for zones and finds them well. He displays above-average football IQ while lining up all across the formation. He has a great feel for space, even displaying above-average ability when plays break down in scramble drills.

Where Germie Bernard loses

Contested Catches

Despite being an above-average-sized receiver, his 39.1% contested catch rate ranks in the 24th percentile among all receivers (via PFF). He just never seems to come down with the ball in those situations. Sometimes it’s play strength, sometimes it’s ball tracking, and other times it’s an impossible throw. Regardless, he has not been a ball winner.

Lack of Dominant Trait

Bernard does lots of things well, but he’s not great at anything. Does that make him a well-rounded, polished receiver or a player without a defined role? How does he win on a regular basis in the NFL? Right now, it feels like the middle of the field and against zone coverage as a WR3 or WR4. How high can that type of player be drafted?

Limited Long Speed

Bernard is not a field stretcher by any sense, and his acceleration is only average. He can be caught from behind and doesn’t display ideal short-area quickness.

Why Bernard makes sense for the Chiefs

It feels like the Chiefs’ wide receiver corps is just an incomplete product headed into 2026. If the Chiefs made a huge, bold move in free agency, via trade, or in the draft, it wouldn’t be surprising. It also wouldn’t be surprising if they ran it back with mostly the same group, with improved coaching and a modest draft pick for depth. Bernard feels like a piece for the latter. He’s not a Tyreek Hill or a Sammy Watkins, but he could be a Demarcus Robinson—someone who has filled a long-tenured NFL career and is a very useful player. Bernard is a floor-raiser, something the Chiefs could use.

Germie Bernard is a versatile and refined receiver who runs a nice variety of routes. He is a reliable catcher of the football, a solid blocker, and a nice option after the catch. His limitations in long speed and contested catches keep his ceiling somewhat low as a prospect.

Round Grade: Red Chip (3rd round grade)