Falcons meet with Alabama WR one week before 2026 NFL Draft

The 2026 NFL Draft is just a week away and the Atlanta Falcons are wrapping up their top-30 visits. The team met with Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard on Wednesday, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport. The projected Day 2 pick is a realistic target for the Falcons in the second round.

The team released Darnell Mooney at the start of the league year, and even after signing Jahan Dotson and Olamide Zaccheaus in free agency, Atlanta should still be looking to upgrade the wide receiver position. Bernard's meeting with the Falcons was reportedly his final pre-draft visit.

Last season, Bernard finished with 862 receiving yards and seven touchdowns for the Crimson Tide. The Falcons would need to target him with the 48th overall pick as it's unlikely he will still be there at pick No. 79. Bernard is currently ranked No. 49 on PFF's 2026 big board.

"He has good size, accelerates to top speed quickly and is a smooth route runner with well-disguised breaks and clean footwork getting in and out," NFL.com's Lance Zierlein wrote in Bernard's scouting report. "He can line up outside or in the slot and is capable of running a full route tree across all three levels."

The Falcons have had success drafting Alabama wide receivers in the past. Julio Jones is a franchise legend, and Calvin Ridley was successful for a few years before his suspension and eventual trade.

Landing a talent like Bernard in Round 2 would be the perfect way for Matt Ryan to kick off his tenure as Atlanta's president of football.

-Catch up on every Falcons pre-draft meeting with our 2026 prospect visit tracker as we close in on the draft.

This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: 2026 NFL Draft: Falcons met with Alabama WR Germie Bernard