Steelers' Surprising Decision To Draft Kaden Wetjen Continues To Become More Confusing

In the 2026 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a shocking decision by selecting wide receiver/return specialist Kaden Wetjen in the fourth round. Pittsburgh hasn't had a strong returner since Antonio Brown was in the Black and Gold, and they believed Wetjen would change that. So far, through four games, nothing has changed about the kick/punt return units, with no big returns this season and no touchdowns. 

Pittsburgh hasn't had a punt return touchdown since Calvin Austin III in 2024. It's been even longer since they had a kick return touchdown, dating back to the 2017 season with JuJu Smith-Schuster. The return game isn't necessarily a crucial part of football, but it can create a lot of hidden yards. So far, Wetjen is averaging just 22.6 yards per kick return and 9.9 yards per punt return. The game is a lot faster in the NFL, and the rookie is certainly learning that lesson. 

Recently, insider Mark Kaboly appeared on the show Steelers Collective, where he made a point that makes the selection even more head-scratching. He says return-specialist skills don't translate to the NFL and that it's a very niche position. He notes the potential of moving Wetjen to wide receiver as the third or fourth option, but his lack of college experience makes it all the more troubling. 

"Well, I don't know what anybody else expected from the guy, that's the problem," Kaboly stated. "When you take Wetjen, he was a tremendous kick-returner at Iowa, but it's college, and it just doesn't translate to the NFL anymore. It's just a very niche position to play, and I think they have thoughts of making him a potential three receiver or four or somebody like that. But he never did it in college. So, it was a curious pick then. It's a curious pick now. I don't know why they did it." 

The Steelers lost longtime special teams coordinator Danny Smith in the offseason during their coaching overhaul and replaced him with Danny Crossman. The Crossman hire was also a head-scratcher, as he hasn't had much success so far in his special teams coaching career. Having a kick-returner who was selected in the fourth round makes that hire, and the selection itself, look even worse. 

At Iowa, Wetjen was one of the nation's best returners, earning All-American honors. He scored on three punt returns and one kick return in his senior year, playing in one of the nation's best conferences -- the Big Ten. Whether it's the scheme or overall unreadiness, Wetjen's skill set hasn't come close to showing on the field, with very little burst or cut ability. 

Benching the rookie doesn't seem like an option, since the organization used a fourth-round pick on him and a roster spot. They could have used that pick to address other needs, but instead they took a return specialist and now have to live with the decision. 

Steelers May Have Made A Huge Mistake

Pittsburgh had plenty of needs going into the 2026 NFL Draft, but none of them were necessarily urgent. Inside linebacker was a question mark after last season's outcome and the decision not to sign one in free agency. Patrick Queen and Payton Wilson both struggled at times in 2025 and are still struggling to begin the 2026 season. Perhaps the pick they used on Wetjen could have been more productive. 

A player like Pitt linebacker Kyle Louis, who was selected 18 picks after Wetjen could've been more fitting. Under new defensive coordinator Patrick Graham, he may grasp the scheme and even tackle better than the current product on the field. Or perhaps Colts rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher, who excels in tackling. 

Hindsight is always 20-20, and the Steelers thought they were getting a playmaker at kick/punt returner. Clearly, after four games, that is not the case. The rookie could still turn it around, but the Steelers arguably had other needs to address. 

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