Baltimore Beatdown
The Baltimore Ravens have a solid young core, with several long-term foundational pieces on both sides of the ball. They have a number of players in particular still within their first few NFL seasons that profile as key focal points of the team’s present and future.
Rising sophomore cornerback Nate Wiggins fits into this category. According to Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton, the 2024 first-round pick is the Ravens’ most promising young talent and building block heading into the 2025 season.
“[The Baltimore Ravens] signed two-time Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander, though that shouldn’t impact [Nate] Wiggins’ playing time when the defense lines up in nickel alignment with three cornerbacks” Moton wrote. “Wiggins should have opportunities to make plays on the boundary as he did in his rookie campaign.”
Before the Ravens recent addition of Alexander, Wiggins as viewed as an every-down starter opposite Humphrey in the lineup — a role he gradually grew into down the stretch last season. While some may anticipate Alexander’s insertion could put a dent in Wiggins’ playing time, as Moton notes, he’ll still play a prominent role in three-cornerback alignments.
When the Ravens selected Wiggins with the No. 30 overall pick last year, the team was adamant in their belief they acquired the draft’s best cornerback prospect. Wiggins validated this confidence in him with his performance in Year 1.
“While on the field for 68 percent of the defensive snaps last season, Wiggins recorded 13 pass breakups and an interception while allowing a 50 percent completion rate and a 66.7 passer rating in coverage,” Moton notes.
As to be expected with any rookie defensive back, Wiggins had some up-and-down moments in his rookie campaign. However, he made consistent strides and improved as the year progressed, becoming a reliable man coverage corner by the postseason.
The former Clemson product will be turning 22 years old just before the start of the upcoming 2025 season and still has lots of room to grow, particularly physically. Thus, while he quickly established himself as a starter-level player, Wiggins’ untapped upside is tremendous.
Moton also proceeds to point out that with Alexander’s injury track record, having missed 10 games in each of the past two seasons, Wiggins could still end up being the team’s most reliable cornerback after Humphrey. Either way, for both this season and beyond, the sky is the limit for him.
