The Pittsburgh Steelers opened Day 3 of the draft by taking Kaden Wetjen, a dynamic kick returner out of Iowa. The return role was a big need for the team, and Wetjen was clearly the best returner in the class. It made sense for the Steelers, who felt Wetjen was the best player available when making the selection.
It didn’t make as much sense to Steelers fans, though. Many thought drafting a pure kick returner as early as the fourth round wasn’t good business. But Max Starks sees a bigger role for Wetjen, one that could see him get work in the slot.
“Even a guy that a lot of people want to talk about, but Kaden Wetjen is a guy who can come in and play slot, fill in for that Calvin Austin III departure,” Starks said Friday on NFL Network’s The Insiders.
Calvin Austin III was a player many were hoping would step into the WR2 role in 2025. But he couldn’t build any real consistency as the year went on, leading the Steelers to bring in a couple of veterans later in the year. Austin left in free agency for the New York Giants, and Wetjen is far from the only player who might take his role this year. Pittsburgh added two other notable names in Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard.
Looking at the stat sheet, it seems as if Wetjen made no offensive impact at Iowa. While he was incredible as a returner, he only had 46 total offensive touches for 329 yards and three touchdowns across his collegiate career. As a smaller player, he doesn’t have the best catch radius, and that also gives him problems against lengthier corners at the line of scrimmage. More than anything, Iowa used him mostly as a return specialist.
But that doesn’t mean the potential isn’t there. Kaden Wetjen got a chance to run routes at the Shrine Bowl, and he was very impressive. He’s very shifty, with great burst and knowledge as he attacks his routes. Of course, these reps below didn’t come against press coverage, something Wetjen will need to be better against at the NFL level. But you can see the skill.
Another day of defenders just having no shot to guard @HawkeyeFootball WR Kaden Wetjen.
This guy is so explosive and sudden. He is destroying defenders time and time again. Has to be a helpless feeling for DBs here in Frisco. pic.twitter.com/GsKUO0q0rD
— Josh Carney (@ByJoshCarney) January 25, 2026
Filling a big need as a return man, you can count on Wetjen making the roster. But carving out a role on offense may be more difficult. With DK Metcalf, Pittman and Bernard, those are three names who will all get touches. Roman Wilson will be in the mix, too, as well as Ben Skowronek. And if Aaron Rodgers comes back, his good relationship with Skowronek could give the latter a boost. Plus, Pittsburgh has another Swiss army-knife type in Eli Heidenreich, vying for his own offensive role.
Wetjen will most likely start simply as a return man and hope to grow his role from there. But if the Steelers use him the right way, he certainly can be a difference-maker with the ball in his hands. Starks thinks a lot of that work will come from the slot.
Recommended for you