RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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When the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Kaden Wetjen in the fourth round of the NFL draft, many analysts viewed him primarily as a special teams specialist. Head coach Mike McCarthy, however, foresees a much broader role for the former Iowa standout.
Appearing on “ The Pat McAfee Show ,” McCarthy explained that he expects Wetjen to contribute significantly on offense, drawing a striking comparison to one of his former Green Bay Packers stars.
Reflecting on Wetjen's explosive 74-yard catch-and-run off a pass from rookie quarterback Drew Allar in the preseason opener, McCarthy outlined his foundational philosophy regarding roster versatility.
“He definitely has to do more than being a returner. I mean, it’s important for your players to always have two jobs. That’s something I firmly believe in philosophically,” said McCarthy.
"That was a big play by Kaden Wetjen.. It was great to see him getting after it" Coach McCarthy #PMSLive https://t.co/QpoqTxssO5 pic.twitter.com/4H5WJqpNQU
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 14, 2026 “I mean I hope to God he could be a Randall Cobb,” responded McCarty in response to Wetjen’s ceiling. “Randall Cobb was an absolute stud for us during his career. But yeah, that was a big play in the game. It was great to see Drew sticking it in there on time and to see Kayden obviously get after it for a huge play in the game.”
Comparing Wetjen to Randall Cobb sets a high bar. Under McCarthy in Green Bay, Cobb transformed from a versatile rookie into a Pro Bowl slot weapon and trusted offensive centerpiece.
By demanding that Wetjen develop secondary skills, McCarthy indicates that Pittsburgh plans to scheme touches for him beyond traditional return duties.
With elite acceleration and run-after-catch agility, Wetjen possesses the exact traits needed for jet sweeps, quick slants, and backfield alignments.
While return coverage remains his fastest path to game-day action, McCarthy's "two jobs" principle guarantees that Wetjen will be given every opportunity to expand his skill set on offense. If Wetjen can refine his slot nuances, Pittsburgh may have secured a dynamic offensive weapon.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers' Mike McCarthy compares Kaden Wetjen to Packers legend
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