Kaden Wetjen
Kaden Wetjen
Does Kaden Wetjen have as safe a roster spot as everyone assumes?
The Steelers used a fourth-round pick on Kaden Wetjen, a return specialist, so of course he is a roster lock. Or is he? It’s not like he is the only player they are using on return roles, and Max Hurleman offers more offensively. Actually, similar to Wetjen, he can be a hybrid player as a wide receiver or running back on gadget plays.
It does seem that, outside of the ball-security moments in the Steelers’ last preseason game, special teams coordinator Danny Crossman is happy with what he has seen from Kaden Wetjen so far. Even without the long returns, he is seeing his returner making the right decisions. He even cited specific examples of plays that, if blocked better, could have hit.
The question is, how high is Wetjen’s ceiling versus his floor, and how does that compare to the Steelers’ other options for kick and punt returns? Secondarily, if cut, how likely is he to clear waivers if they want to re-sign him to their practice squad?
One route the Steelers could take is roster Wetjen but retain Hurleman on their practice squad. At least for the first three weeks, they could elevate Hurleman to the active roster while either developing Wetjen or figuring out whether he merits a roster spot.
A fourth-round pick is a not inconsiderable investment, and using it on essentially a specialist further raises the stakes. A fourth-round pick on a return man like Wetjen is like using a first-round pick on a quarterback—sort of. But it’s not like fourth-round picks are roster locks around the league.
The Steelers have waived rookie fourth-round picks before. Remember Doran Grant, the cornerback who made everybody feel better about the team using a second-round pick on Senquez Golson? While he made the Steelers’ initial 53-man roster, they quickly waived him to make room for a player they claimed off waivers. If the Steelers find a return man they like after roster cuts, Kaden Wetjen could certainly follow the Grant path.
The Steelers have a long road ahead of them under Mike McCarthy, along with his cadre of quarterbacks.With seven consecutive postseason losses, and no wins in nearly a decade, they are under fire for their repeated playoff failures. While we have seen many changes, none could dream of topping Mike Tomlin resigning.
We’re already out of training camp, with free agency and the draft already reshaping rosters. The Steelers, of course, are used to early offseason mode as a team thatloses by the middle of January all the time. Enjoy the ride, even the turbulence, because it’s the only way we know how to travel anymore.