Steelers trade up twice, add four Day 2 draft picks, including Germie Bernard

The Steelers spent Day 2 showing a clear drafting philosophy: move when a player fits the role, then build the rest of the class around immediate depth and longer-term succession. Pittsburgh traded up twice, first jumping from No. 53 to No. 47 for Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard, then climbing from No. 99 to No. 96 for Iowa offensive lineman Gennings Dunker. That aggressiveness turned four picks into a class that addressed receiver, quarterback, cornerback and the offensive line in one sweep.

The Bernard move was the clearest signal. Pittsburgh sent No. 53, No. 135 and No. 237 to Indianapolis and got No. 47 and No. 249 back, a steep price for a second-round receiver. But the Steelers had already missed on another wideout target in Round 1, and Bernard’s selection answered that need with urgency. Offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio said Bernard stood out on a 30 visit and praised his character and energy, which fits the Steelers’ preference for players who can help both the room and the locker room. In a draft held in Pittsburgh, the home crowd saw the team act like a club trying to shape its identity, not merely collect names.

That identity was more layered on offense. With Penn State quarterback Drew Allar at No. 76, the Steelers added a developmental passer with a specific profile: big, strong-armed, physical, with large hands and the arm strength to match. Allar played 45 games for Penn State, started 35, and finished with 633 completions, 7,402 yards and 61 touchdowns. The pick reads less like an immediate push for a starting job and more like succession planning at the sport’s most important position.

The same logic carried into the secondary and offensive line. Georgia defensive back Daylen Everette went No. 85 after appearing in 55 games for the Bulldogs, where he logged 150 tackles, 107 solo stops, five tackles for loss and one sack. Defensive coordinator Patrick Graham pointed to Everette’s experience in big games and the physical traits to make plays, a useful blend for a defense that values reliability under pressure. Dunker, listed at 6-foot-5 and 319 pounds, spent most of his Iowa career at right tackle, but offensive line coach James Campen expects him to line up at guard in Pittsburgh, another sign the Steelers are targeting versatile pieces they can project into specific jobs.

Taken together, the class suggests a front office trying to solve multiple timelines at once. Bernard gives the offense another pass catcher now, Allar gives it a future quarterback plan, Everette adds defense-ready depth, and Dunker reinforces the interior line. On a Day 2 packed with movement, Pittsburgh did not just add four players. It outlined the roster it wants to become.