Rounds 4-7 Recap: Steelers find good value late, go off the board for one

Yahoo Sports3h ago20 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

The Steelers made five picks in rounds 4-7 of the NFL Draft, focusing on player traits and going off consensus boards. Notably, they selected Kaden Wetjen, a standout return specialist from Iowa, despite some viewing it as a reach.

Key points

Steelers drafted five players in rounds 4-7
Kaden Wetjen was a notable pick for his return abilities
Team focused on player traits over consensus rankings
Wetjen led college football in return yards and touchdowns
Steelers' special teams ranked last in return yards

Kaden WetjenRiley NowakowskiGabriel RubioRobert Spears-Jennings

Rounds 4-7 Recap: Steelers find good value late, go off the board for one

Games are not usually won during the NFL Draft, but you can lose some if you are continually whiffing on selections. In this case, day three of the NFL Draft concluded on an all-time note (attendance record set), and the Pittsburgh Steelers walked away with an intriguing group of prospects, operating a bit differently from previous drafts, putting more emphasis on traits and going a bit off the consensus big boards. Going into the last day, Pittsburgh ended up taking five players in total: Iowa's Kaden Wetjen, Indiana's Riley Nowakowski, Notre Dame's Gabriel Rubio, Oklahoma's Robert Spears-Jennings, and Navy's Eli Heidenreich. Surprisingly, they did not take a linebacker or punter with the 10 picks they used, but under a microscope, each pick made on the third day paints a bigger picture.

Round 4: Kaden Wetjen analysis

Wetjen was considered by many to be a massive reach in the fourth round. Still, his dynamic dual return ability will immediately elevate the Steelers' special teams unit in 2025, which was dead last in return yards. He was, arguably, the best return man in college football at Iowa, as flipping field position became an instant strength of his in short order. Wetjen runs a blistering 4.47 speed, where he led the nation in combined return yards (1,039), punt return average (26.8), and tied for return touchdowns (4). Needless to say, he is dominant at special teams (two-time Jet Award winner), backed by strong elusiveness (evading the first open-space tackling attempt), vision that navigates itself well through traffic, is sudden with short-area quickness that is twitchy, instantly creating separation off cuts, and has lower-body strength to withstand contact initially. It's also worth mentioning that he's a much better route runner and receiver than people would give credit for (as seen in his East-West Shrine Bowl reps).

Q&A

Who did the Pittsburgh Steelers draft in rounds 4-7 of the NFL Draft?

The Steelers drafted Kaden Wetjen, Riley Nowakowski, Gabriel Rubio, Robert Spears-Jennings, and Eli Heidenreich.

What position does Kaden Wetjen play and why is he significant?

Kaden Wetjen is a return specialist whose dynamic dual return ability is expected to enhance the Steelers' special teams, which struggled last season.

What were the Steelers' draft strategies in the later rounds?

The Steelers emphasized player traits and deviated from consensus big boards, opting for players they believe can make an immediate impact.

How did Kaden Wetjen perform in college?

Wetjen led the nation in combined return yards, punt return average, and tied for return touchdowns, showcasing his exceptional skills in special teams.