PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – There are some draft hopefuls who isolate before the pick, some with family, Iowa kick returner and receiver Kaden Wetjen was trying to get 18 in before being interrupted by a phone call from Steelers GM Omar Khan to take him in the fourth round.
“I’m actually at the golf course right now,” Wetjen said. “I knew I was a later round pick. The plan was to text everybody after I got the information and have everybody over tonight. Thankfully it happened earlier than expected and I didn’t shank it into the pond after I got picked. Everything is going good.”
Wetjen was the two-time Big 10 Return Specialist of the Year leading all of FBS with 1,049 combined return yards and 26.8 yards per punt. In those two seasons he averaged 28 yards per kick return in 2024 and 29.8 yards per kick return last year.
“My fearlessness and my vision,” Wetjen said of what makes him good and Steelers special teams coach Danny Crossman also used the word fearless. “I played running back out of high school, I got some vision by playing running back and it carried over into return. It ended up coming together and I did some good stuff.”
The Steelers were the only team to hold a formal interview with him at the NFL Combine, so he was expecting to wait, but the call came a little after 1p EST.
Minutes later he got on a conference call with Pittsburgh reporters, talking as he was walking up the ninth hole. He wasn’t going to play the back nine.
“We are going back to party now, enjoy the rest of the day,” Wetjen said. “It will be a good day.”
NFL.com says the 5’9”, 193 pounder is a threat to flip the field at any time as a returner. His route tree is more swing passes and shallow cross routes, he said he worked hard at the Shrine Bowl to get noticed as a receiver.
“I have a bunch more to showcase,” Wetjen said. “I feel like I definitely can contribute on the offensive side and be an impact there as well.”
Last year Wetjen caught 20 passes for 151 yards and a touchdown, rushing for 79 yards and two more scores. All career-highs after three receptions his second year and 33 yards rushing.
Wetjen said he’s studied the NFL changes to the kick returns and believes it still fits his game. It’s downhill running and that’s what he does well.
It’s an interesting pick, Wetjen was pegged as a sixth or likely seventh rounder. Steelers picked him over other intriguing options, but it’s been a long time since they had an impact returner.
Kaden Wetjen was on the golf course when he got the call
Kaden Wetjen was on the golf course when he got the call
