Steelers Have A Brutal Rookie Battle Brewing With Incredibly High Stakes

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan did an exceptional job setting up the organization for the 2026 NFL Draft. With Mike McCarthy in his first year with Pittsburgh, Khan even joked that he shouldn’t get too used to the luxury of draft capital he had been given. The Steelers selected 10 rookies in the event, and it quickly became clear that several of them would not have guaranteed roster spots.

One draft pick that Khan and McCarthy made, which drew significant discussion, was using the 121st overall pick on return specialist Kaden Wetjen out of Iowa. Many felt the Steelers reached for him in the fourth round, believing that because he projects primarily as a return man at the NFL level, he was selected higher than his value warranted. However, it later became known that the Steelers had heard other teams were preparing to draft him, and they wanted to ensure they secured their preferred return specialist, prompting them to pull the trigger.

Later, in the seventh round, they drafted fan favorite Navy product Eli Heidenreich. That selection also generated a strong reaction, as Heidenreich went viral during the pre-draft process for a workout in which he matched elite testing numbers associated with NFL great running back Christian McCaffrey.

With 10 rookies added, it was expected that difficult roster decisions would follow. According to Steelers insider Chris Carter via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette chat, Wetjen and Heidenreich may now be competing for one of those coveted final 53-man roster spots.

"Wetjen and Heidenreich may be in a battle for returner, and the winner might be determined by who can help in more roles," Carter said while speaking about the battle heating up for the return specialist job.

When the Steelers made the decision to draft Heidenreich, the McCaffrey comparisons were initially the main talking point. However, that narrative quickly became overblown, as comparing him to a player like McCaffrey simply isn’t fair, no matter how close their testing numbers and measurables may be.

Still, that doesn’t mean Heidenreich can’t pull off the unthinkable and make this roster. It would be surprising to see a fourth-round pick miss out, especially if Heidenreich were to beat him out, but his versatility and ability to impact the game in multiple ways give him a real path. Heidenreich now appears to have an edge over Wetjen, and there is even a scenario where the fourth-round pick could miss the roster entirely if Heidenreich wins the battle outright.

"Wetjen, I see as primarily a returner and if he's a WR, he's at best their 6th option," Carter said. "But Heidenreich can also be a returner, a gunner, and maybe a receiving threat out of the backfield as well."

Carter believes that Wetjen could ultimately miss the 53-man roster and be beaten out by Heidenreich in the return specialist battle. If that happens, then it's fair to assume Steelers fans would view that pick as a swing and a miss.

Steelers' Rookie Special Teams Battle May Decide Who Makes The Final Roster

This competition highlights just how deep the Steelers’ rookie class has become, especially in the fight for limited roster spots. With special teams often deciding the back end of the 53-man roster, every opportunity in camp and preseason will carry significant weight for both players.

As training camp unfolds, all eyes will be on Wetjen and Heidenreich to see who can separate themselves. In a battle this tight, versatility, consistency, and impact on special teams could ultimately decide who survives final roster cuts.

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