How a Steelers 2026 Fourth-Round Pick Can Make the Jump to the NFL
When the Steelers selected Kaden Wetjen in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they took a gamble. The return specialist from Iowa is a phenomenal return man, just taken too early. Pittsburgh picked him in part because other teams showed interest in Wetjen at the time. The Steelers needed a return man after Calvin Austin III left in free agency, and rumors placed Wetjen high on draft boards, so they seized the opportunity and selected him 121st overall. This pick could pay off or be seen as a reach. Wetjen, a two-time Johnny Rodgers Award winner, excelled in college, but there are concerns about his transition to the NFL. According to Christopher Carter from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Wetjen’s struggles against press coverage and doubts about his ability to match the speed of NFL athletes are legitimate concerns for his transition to the league."
Speed is Wetjen's biggest concern as he transitions to pro football. Running a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, the 24-year-old kick returner showcased great speed, but that still doesn’t compare to how the NFL works overall. Former Bears quarterback Justin Fields even said, “It actually felt kind of slow to me” after his preseason debut. He would finish his rookie year with 10 starts, less than 2,000 passing yards, and more interceptions than touchdowns. Wetjen’s 4.47-second 40-yard dash is very solid, but when speed is the primary factor for a return man, the likelihood of him breaking tackles and long returns the same way he did in college is unlikely; too many NFL players are accustomed to facing fast returners. Carter commented on the five-foot-nine rookie’s speed, saying, “he’s fast, but does not have exceptional speed.” With many other promising rookies joining Pittsburgh in 2026, Wetjen’s chances to succeed are limited and will likely come down to his flip-the-field ability at the pro level.
Wetjen won't need to do a lot for the Steelers, as he comes into a rebuilt Pittsburgh team, especially on offense. D.K. Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., Germie Bernard, Jaylen Warren, and Rico Dowdle will all prevent the young kid from getting many valuable touches on offense. If the nation’s best return man can adjust to the speed of the NFL, he’ll simply need to rely on his skillset to make defenders miss. According to Carter, “If Wetjen becomes a dangerous playmaker for the Steelers, it will most likely be the result of his ability to make defenders miss. If he continues to do that at a high level, it could make for a significant boost in field position for the Steelers’ special teams units.” The sneaky return man from Iowa will need to rely on his elusiveness and find open space to continue creating explosive plays as he did in college. Finding hidden yards was a hallmark of Wetjen’s game, and if he’s able to do that at the NFL level, he could become a great weapon for the Steelers to flip the field. With recently extended kicker Chris Boswell on the roster, the Steelers will be guaranteed three points every drive, as long as Wetjen can deliver. The increased speed will be a big issue for the return specialist, but if he can continue to create explosive plays on the field and make people miss, he may have a spot on the Steelers roster come September.
