3 reasons why Alabama's Germie Bernard is the most underrated WR in the 2026 class
We keep falling for this.
3 reasons why Alabama's Germie Bernard is the most underrated WR in the 2026 class originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The NFL Draft community has an impressive ability to re-learn the same lesson year after year.
The big ones stick: don't draft running backs too early, arm length matters for tackles, and elite athleticism is key to identifying early-round edge rushers. Other ideas have trouble sticking, like our tendency to typecast receivers. This class offers a few examples, headlined by USC's Makai Lemon.
With an outstanding platform season, Lemon has been able to shake the narratives his frame suggests and will -- in all likelihood -- be a top-15 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Alabama Crimson Tide star Germie Bernard wasn't as fortunate, despite posting quality production and film in 2025. Bernard currently sits outside the consensus top-50 , but his well-rounded game is worthy of fringe-first-round hype, too.
Germie Bernard is somehow still under the radar 1. Bernard is more than just a slot receiver. Like Lemon, the biggest reason why Bernard was slow to generate first-round hype was his projected archetype.