Rounds 2-3 Recap: Steelers take big swing on QB, come away with good value at WR, CB, OG
It's not that teams can't win on day 1 of the draft, it's just that day 2 is where the real evaluation begins, separating contenders and pretenders.
Going into the second night of the NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers had a total of four picks for rounds two and three, and they covered a multitude of needs, several that ended up being good value. General Manager Omar Khan was determined not to miss out on a promising wide receiver prospect, so he traded up to pick Alabama wideout Germie Bernard at 47 from 53 with the Indianapolis Colts. Next up, they took a shot on a developmental quarterback prospect in Penn State's Drew Allar at 76.
Secondary depth was a considerable need going into the draft, as Georgia's Daylin Everette was selected at 85. Lastly, the Steelers may have found their last puzzle piece to complete their offensive line, as they took Iowa's Gennings Dunker (who will likely move to Left Guard). Bernard is a physical receiver who has elite hands (just 4-6 drops over 232 career targets, great route running, is positionally versatile (can inside and outside), and is also an excellent blocker (one of the best at run-blocking in his class).
He will sustain drives, always willing to do the dirty work in run support. Brings a strong football IQ, excels at tempo manipulation, and exploits zone coverage gaps. Bernard profiles as a perfect third receiver in Mike McCarthy's West Coast offense, emphasizing anticipation and timing.
Allar might be the most controversial pick on this list, but there's no hiding the fact that McCarthy wanted another quarterback to work with who has traits and tools, and he certainly got that yesterday. He has one of the strongest arms, on top of having a big 6'5 and change frame. But his mental processing and mechanics are a work in progress, making him a lottery ticket.