The decision by the Pittsburgh Steelers to select Kaden Wetjen in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft initially raised some eyebrows. Taken with the 121st overall pick on April 25, Wetjen was viewed by some as a slight reach given his relatively narrow skill set coming out of the University of Iowa. While his elite return ability was never in question, there were concerns about whether spending a mid-round pick on a player with limited offensive upside was the best use of draft capital.
Jacob Musselman / Imagn Images
Steelers' return man Kaden Wetjen speaks with the media while at the podium during the NFL Scouting Combine in 2026 being held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN.
That reaction, however, has started to shift as more information has surfaced in the days following the draft. Reports later revealed Pittsburgh was far from alone in its evaluation of Wetjen, with multiple teams believed to have been targeting him as one of the premier special teams weapons available in this year’s class. That context suddenly makes the Steelers’ aggressive move look far less like a reach and more like a front office acting decisively to secure a player they believed would not last much longer.
Wetjen may not arrive in Pittsburgh as an every-down offensive contributor, but his value as a return specialist is very real -- especially after Pittsburgh lost Calvin Austin III in the 2026 offseason. In today’s NFL, flipping field position and creating explosive hidden-yardage plays can change games in an instant. If Wetjen develops into the type of dynamic return threat the Steelers envision, Pittsburgh could end up looking incredibly smart for trusting its board while others questioned the move. Steelers pundit Christopher Carter uncovered the most impressive trait of Pittsburgh's new return man via his research for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Wednesday.
"What’s most impressive about Wetjen’s skills as a returner is that he doesn’t have elite speed or explosiveness," Carter said. "His 4.47-second time in the 40-yard dash ranked 21st among receivers at the NFL Combine, and his 20-yard shuttle time of 4.44 seconds was the slowest among receivers in that drill. His best drill at the combine was his 6.95-second time in the three-cone drill, which ranked third out of seven receivers who participated in the drill."
What Carter is articulating here is that Wetjen’s skill set is so unique it almost doesn’t make sense. In many ways, it seems to defy physics, which is exactly why the Steelers wanted to give new special teams coordinator Danny Crossman this luxury pick.
Rob Howe / HawkFanatic
Steelers' newly drafted kick returner/wide receiver Kaden Wetjen awaits a kickoff during his college days at Iowa.
Despite not possessing the same elite speed or twitchiness that players like Tavon Austin and De'Anthony Thomas had, Wetjen still finds ways to make defenders miss in a very similar fashion.
"Despite all that, Wetjen was a given on any return to make the first defender in his path miss — and stood a strong chance to make the second do the same," Carter said.
The biggest question surrounding Wetjen is whether he can continue making defenders miss at this level. He was obviously highly successful doing so in the Big Ten, where he set the University of Iowa record for most career return touchdowns with six. Still, the NFL is an entirely different challenge, with faster athletes, tighter windows, and constantly evolving kickoff rules that could impact how return specialists are utilized.
Steelers' Pick 121 Will Be Highly Debated In A Few Years
Naturally, there will be questions about whether Wetjen’s style can translate to the next level. That uncertainty is what makes this selection such an interesting gamble for the Steelers. If his elite instincts and vision continue to shine against NFL competition, Pittsburgh could have landed a true difference-maker in the return game.
Matthew Holst / Getty Images
Steelers' new wide receiver Kaden Wetjen returning punt during his time at Iowa in the 2025 season.
Ultimately, this is the kind of pick that will likely be remembered as one of two ways. In a few short years, the decision to draft Wetjen at No. 121 overall will either be mocked as an unnecessary reach or praised as a forward-thinking move that helped the Steelers uncover something special.
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