Kaden Wetjen impressing at East West Shine Bowl practices. "He’s a blur. Number of scouts are buzzing about him."
- Thread starter Franisdaman
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| Draft Year | Player | Position (Role) | Round | Overall Pick | Team |
| 2021 | Avery Williams | RB/Return Specialist | 5 | 183 | Falcons |
| 2022 | Montrell Washington | WR/Return Specialist | 5 | 162 | Broncos |
| 2023 | Derius Davis | WR/Return Specialist | 4 | 125 | Chargers |
| 2024 | Anthony Gould | WR/Return Specialist | 5 | 142 | Colts |
| 2025 | Tory Horton | WR/Punt Returner | 5 | 166 | Seahawks  |
Here’s the list of the highest drafted return specialists the last 5 drafts. They typically are projected as 7th round picks but the top guy usually ends up going much higher, as teams seem to be willing to reach a bit for an elite returner.
We can expect Wetjen to go in the 4th or 5th round.
New kickoff rules is great for wetjen. I think he makes a 53 man roster or at very least up and down from practice squad and plays in some games next year.
I concur w/ above re: there is no justification to ever kick it to him.
My question has always been, why was Michigan state dumb enought to make that mistake? it cost them the game.
My question has always been, why was Michigan state dumb enought to make that mistake? it cost them the game.
Minnesota kicked it to Coop too, but Coop called for a fair catch. (sarcasm)
These clips leave me wondering why Wetjen was so underutilized in the Iowa passing game. My gawd. Look at what he's doing. They can't cover him. He's wide open, outrunning and outmanuevering the DBs. Was it Lester's fault, or was it MG's failure to see the field and get rid of the ball? Seeing this makes me kinda sick. How do you have a weapon like Wetjen and not figure out how to take advantage of it?
Was Wetjen thinking too much instead of just using his natural instincts? If so, that's on Lester. I'd like to hear what Lester, and Wetjen, have to say about that.
QB must throw the ball on time before he comes open. Iowa QBs wait til receiver is open , then it is to late
Most of the time
Yes please!!!
Iowa listed him at 5'9.
The cushion by that DB is insane. They have to disrupt him at the LOS to have a shot. Giving him almost 10 yards of acceleration is insane.
I'll allow it.
But also tell the rest of the NFL to f*** off and let us spend a 2nd or 3rd Rd pick on Logan Jones because we need a Center.
See Charlie Jones for reference. There is your answer.
And he would be a gunner on punt and kick coverage on a 53 man roster.
The coaches and MG tried to get the ball to KW. But, unlike practices in the Shrine Game, the coaches and players scouted and game planned against him. I doubt they left a corner to handle him one-on-one without some help from a safety. Every time he came into a game, the defense was on high alert.
In the NFL, if he gets in on offense, he'll be a slot receiver and likely defended by a safety or even an LB. I think he'll have a chance to do some real damage.
In the NFL, if he gets in on offense, he'll be a slot receiver and likely defended by a safety or even an LB. I think he'll have a chance to do some real damage.
In fairness, if you didn't already know all these things about Wetjen, you were likely living in a cave for the past couple of years.
From this morning.
More from the Steelers beat writer:
More from the Steelers beat writer:
The ball was thrown to KW 20 times all season, often behind the line of scrimmage. Iowa's passing offense was 127th in the nation.
I think people knew about the punt returns.
But the receiver route running & the separation he gets, where then no one can catch up to him?
And he seems to be catching everything, where he shows very good body control.
In 2024 it was a matter of Wetjen being slow to learn the offense and making reads. VanderZee and Gill were able to pick things up quickly despite missing spring practice. Wetjen was making too many mistakes and so didn't get much PT. There may still have been some mistakes and thinking rather than reacting in 2025, but it was also a matter of having a QB new to the system.
As we all know, there is a difference between practice and games. It's just one-on-one out there with no reads to make.
But, let's also give Wetjen some credit for developing as a receiver. I'd wager he wouldn't have looked this good two years ago.
Definitely getting a bit of a Charlie Jones vibe here.