Steelers Risk Embarrassing Admission With Kaden Wetjen Roster Decision

The Pittsburgh Steelers used the 121st overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft on Kaden Wetjen, making an unusually aggressive investment in a player best known for his return ability. Cutting him before playing his rookie season would make that decision look considerably worse.

Wetjen has endured an uneven training camp and followed his electric preseason debut with a difficult performance against the New York Jets. That inconsistency has created questions about whether Pittsburgh can justify dedicating a spot on its 53-man roster to a developmental wide receiver and return specialist.

Nick Farabaugh does not believe the organization will give up that quickly. During an appearance on 93.7 The Fan, the Steelers insider explained why Wetjen's draft status, return experience and upside should protect him when final cuts arrive.

"I know he [Kaden Wetjen] has had a rough camp," Farabaugh said. "I know he had a rough game on Friday. I can't see that unless they are just thinking about Max Hurleman on the roster. But I don't think anybody thinks Max Hurleman is getting claimed on waivers. With all due respect to Max Hurleman, I think he will probably make the practice squad and be a good player for them there."

Hurleman could provide depth and special teams value, but Farabaugh does not see another NFL team rushing to claim him. That would give Pittsburgh a realistic opportunity to keep him in the building without sacrificing Wetjen. The rookie's draft position matters. The Steelers selected Wetjen in the fourth round after several analysts projected him to come off the board later. Pittsburgh clearly valued his explosiveness enough to move ahead of the expected range, and abandoning that evaluation after one summer would be difficult to defend.

Wetjen showed exactly why the organization became fascinated with him during its 28-9 preseason victory over the Green Bay Packers. He caught both of his targets for 79 yards and a touchdown while adding 61 yards across three kickoff returns and 10 yards on two punt returns.

That debut offered a glimpse of a player capable of changing field position and creating explosive plays. His follow-up performance raised legitimate concerns, but one rough night should not erase the traits that convinced Danny Crossman and Pittsburgh's draft room to invest in him.

Farabaugh also emphasized how unusual it would be for the Steelers to release a fourth-round selection immediately after his first training camp.

"I don't think they are cutting Kaden Wetjen," Farabaugh said. "He's their fourth-round pick. It's very rare. They did this once. I can only remember them doing this once straight out of camp. Doran Grant, do you remember him? They cut him straight out of camp. It's very rare. I don't think Wetjen has been that bad."

Grant provides the historical example, but even his situation shows how reluctant Pittsburgh is to completely surrender its investment. The Steelers waived the 2015 fourth-round cornerback after his rookie camp before bringing him back on the practice squad and eventually promoting him to the active roster.

Wetjen should not be treated as untouchable simply because of where he was selected. Draft status cannot excuse repeated ball-security problems, poor decisions or an inability to contribute. However, he has already demonstrated enough upside to deserve time inside an NFL development program.

Steelers Cutting Kaden Wetjen Would Admit A Major Evaluation Failure

Releasing Wetjen would essentially validate every person who believed Pittsburgh selected him too early. The front office would be admitting that outside draft projections understood his value better than the people responsible for constructing the roster. That would be an embarrassing outcome only four months after the Steelers called his name. 

Wetjen was drafted as a return specialist with room to develop offensively. Expecting him to become a polished receiver during one offseason would ignore the reason he was selected and the patience his role naturally requires. Pittsburgh should keep Wetjen, allow Hurleman to reach the practice squad and give Crossman time to unlock the rookie's value.

Share your Steelers takes with me on X (@anthonyghalkias), and consider following for more Black and Gold coverage and discussion.