Pittsburgh Steelers selected return specialist Kaden Wetjen in the fourth round of the NFL draft. Analysts Steve Palazzolo and Thor Nystrom have endorsed the pick, highlighting his college return prowess despite debates over special teams value.
The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Kaden Wetjen, a standout college return specialist, in the fourth round of the NFL draft on April 25, 2026. Wetjen impressed during his college career with six kick returns for touchdowns, including four last season—three on punt returns. He amassed 2,492 combined kick- and punt-return yards, ranking 98th all-time among NCAA players, though he trails many in total yards who struggled to transition to the NFL, such as former Steeler David Gilreath. Thor Nystrom of The 33rd Team celebrated the selection on X, writing, “One of the great return men in college football history has landed in the NFL, and he’s staying in black & yellow. Steelers just got a weapon in R4 with Kaden Wetjen — seriously, watch this guy move in space.” Steve Palazzolo, formerly of Pro Football Focus, echoed the enthusiasm during a discussion on 93.7 The Fan. He called Wetjen “a special teams superstar” and a favorite of Nystrom due to his punt- and kick-return skills, with potential in the slot. “Love that pick—and I hate special teams. But yeah, he’ll help,” Palazzolo said. The Steelers have faced return game struggles in recent years, making Wetjen a targeted addition to flip the field and score occasionally. Palazzolo deemed it “good value” for a fourth-rounder, drawing loose parallels to Hall of Famer Devin Hester, a second-round return specialist with 19 return touchdowns. Debate persists on special teams draft investments, with some fans and reporters skeptical unless Wetjen delivers offensive upside or All-Pro honors.
