Iowa Wide Receiver Kaden Wetjen Likely Improved His NFL Stock
The NFL is about to begin a brand new league year, and the dawn of such a pivot is always signaled by the NFL Combine, an annual event for college prospects in Indianapolis. It's at the Combine where NFL hopefuls can show off their speed, skillset, and agility, and also have the opportunity to make to the decision-makers on various teams.
A player's metaphorical "stock" can rise or fall depending on their performance at the Combine. For many college players who didn't attend traditional college football powerhouses, it's the chance for regular fans to know their story. If we want to talk about "winners" of the 2026 NFL Combine, Iowa Hawkeyes wide receiver/return specialist Kaden Wetjen needs to be in the conversation.
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Kaden Wetjen's Stock Has Exponentially Increased:
Kaden Wetjen showed up and showed out to the Combine, flexing his skills as a returner just like he did at Iowa. At only 5'9'', he's smaller than your average receiver, but promising in the slot. Out of high school, Wetjen didn't go to a Division-I school right away. Instead, he went to Iowa Western Community College before transferring to Iowa as a walk-on.
After four years at Iowa (including a redshirt year), Wetjen left the school as a two-time All-American and one of the more promising specialists in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft.
How Did Wetjen Perform at the Combine?:
Wetjen ran a 4.48 40-yard-dash, and showed quality ball security skills. Here's how the website "Pride of Detroit" summarized his Combine performance:
A common theme with Wetjen was that when asked to break down and make sharp cuts, he could not maintain any speed, and NFL defensive backs won’t have any issue defending these routes. However, when allowed to roll his transitions on intermediate and deeper routes, he maintained his speed and did a really nice job tracking the ball, even snagging inaccurate throws. He has terrific body control and showed more than once that he can elevate for a ball, secure the catch, and land with both feet in bounds. Bottom line: Wetjen is an elite returner with a path to the field, but he will be limited in his routes - per Pride of Detroit
Wetjen has two career kick return touchdowns and four career punt return touchdowns. While he has three career receiving touchdowns, Wetjen's strength is not as a wide receiver, so a team that drafts him would need to make him a true specialist. At best, he's probably looking at a slot role (wide receiver #4) on a good team.
I can't pretend to be any kind of NFL Draft expert, but I could see Wetjen being a day-two pick in the third round. Surely, he will hear his name called at some point during the 2026 NFL Draft, which kicks off on Thursday, April 23rd in Pittsburgh. Read more about Kaden Wetjen on his Wikipedia page.
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Gallery Credit: Tom Drake