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Steelers Draft Iowa Return Specialist Kaden Wetjen at No. 121

Pittsburgh is betting on instant special-teams impact from a two-time Jet Award winner.

Overview

  • The Steelers, who drafted Wetjen on Saturday at No. 121 in Round 4, are expected to make him their primary punt and kick returner.
  • Wetjen won the Jet Award twice as college football’s top returner and finished at Iowa with six combined return touchdowns.
  • He measured 5-foot-9 and 193 pounds at the NFL Combine and ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash.
  • Analysts praised his open-field vision yet questioned his limited receiver production, with several draft grades labeling the fourth-round price a reach for a niche role.
  • He began at Iowa Western Community College before earning a walk-on spot at Iowa, where he broke out on special teams in 2024 and 2025.