Iowa wide receiver and special-teams ace Kaden Wetjen was selected in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2026 NFL Draft. He was the 121st overall pick.
Wetjen is a two-time Jet Award winner, which honors college football’s top return specialist.
We asked Hawk Central football writers Chad Leistikow and Tyler Tachman for some quick analysis on Wetjen. Here’s what they said.
What kind of player was Kaden Wetjen at Iowa?
Chad Leistikow: Became the most prolific return man in the history of a program with plenty of greats (Tim Dwight, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Cooper DeJean among them). And watching his instinctual play as a punt returner, it was no fluke. Wetjen has “it” in the return game, from his fast feet to high top-end speed to a daring-yet-consistent approach to catching punts. Wetjen ended up with six career touchdown returns (all in his final two years at Iowa) and had another one called back by a questionable flag. He’ll instantly help an NFL team in the return game and has the speed to be a gadget receiver, at minimum, at the next level.
Tyler Tachman: The electric playmaker has the most combined return touchdowns (punt and kickoff) in Iowa program history with six. Wetjen cemented himself as one of the all-time special teams greats for the Hawkeyes. He is a two-time Jet Award winner, which honors college football’s top return specialist. Wetjen is quite the underdog story. He began his college career at Iowa Western Community College before transferring to the Hawkeyes as a preferred walk-on. It wasn’t until Wetjen’s third season in the Iowa program that he broke out, establishing himself as a dangerous special teams weapon for the Hawkeyes in 2024. He is undersized, but possesses great speed and elusiveness. After scoring two return touchdowns in 2024, Wetjen managed to outperform that mark last season. Wetjen finished the 2025 season with four return touchdowns — three punts and one kickoff. While Wetjen’s impact was felt the most on special teams, he also carved out a role on offense. Last season, he hauled in 20 receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown while also rushing for two touchdowns, all of which were career-highs.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What Steelers fans can expect from NFL draft pick Kaden Wetjen, insider perspective
Reporting by Hawk Central staff report, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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