Why the Green Bay Packers should target Iowa's Kaden Wetjen in the 2026 NFL Draft

The Green Bay Packers’ special teams have been mediocre at best this season, and the return game has been a clear weakness. They are averaging just 5.6 yards per punt return, the second-worst mark in the NFL, and only 25.1 yards per kickoff return, which also ranks near the bottom of the league. 

Why Kaden Wetjen is an immediate special teams upgrade

This is a problem the Packers can fix cheaply in the 2026 NFL Draft. With a Day 3 pick, likely in the sixth or seventh round, Green Bay should strongly consider Iowa return specialist Kaden Wetjen.

Wetjen has been elite as a return man over the past two seasons. He set the Big Ten single-season record by averaging 28.3 yards per punt return and scored three punt return touchdowns, tied for the third-most in conference history. In 2024, he was also named the Rodgers–Dwight Return Specialist of the Year. Simply put, he has been one of the most dangerous returners in college football.

While Wetjen is at his best as a punt returner, he is also highly effective on kickoffs. This season, he averaged 30.5 yards per kickoff return and has taken one kickoff back for a touchdown in each of the past two seasons. That production made him the only player in Big Ten history to record three punt return touchdowns and one kickoff return touchdown in the same season.

Wetjen’s success is not accidental. His vision stands out immediately. He consistently sets up blocks and understands leverage. His contact balance is another major strength, as he routinely bounces off would-be tacklers. Just as important, he is decisive. Once he sees a lane, he hits it at full speed without hesitation.

Beyond special teams, Wetjen offers limited but useful offensive value. He caught 20 passes last season in one of the worst passing offenses in college football and still managed to break seven tackles on those receptions. That speaks to his balance and toughness with the ball in his hands.

Matt LaFleur could also use Wetjen as a ball carrier. The Packers have already shown a willingness to use receivers like Matthew Golden and Savion Williams on jet sweeps and designed runs. Wetjen, a former high school running back, has averaged 6.1 yards per carry on 21 rushing attempts during his time at Iowa. He fits that same gadget role.

So why would a player this productive still be available late in the draft? The answer is simple. Wetjen is not a full-time offensive weapon. He is not a refined route runner, and at 5-foot-9, 196 pounds, he has a limited catch radius. He is not someone you line up in the backfield or expect to play heavy snaps on offense. His value comes from space, motion, and special teams.

That is exactly why he makes sense for Green Bay. When you factor in his immediate impact on special teams and his ability to contribute situationally on offense, using one of the Packers’ sixth- or seventh-round picks on Kaden Wetjen should be an easy decision.