Nate Wiggins Drawing CB1 Buzz After Impressive Rookie Season With Ravens

Nate Wiggins Drawing CB1 Buzz After Impressive Rookie Season With Ravens originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Former Clemson Tiger Nate Wiggins didn’t just ease into the NFL — he made a statement. And now, heading into his second season with the Baltimore Ravens, the long, athletic corner is being asked to do something much tougher: anchor a thin secondary and evolve into a true CB1.

Wiggins, Baltimore’s No. 30 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was trusted early and often in his rookie campaign. He appeared in 15 games and started six, finishing with 33 tackles, 13 pass breakups, and a 26-yard pick-six that sealed a win in the regular season finale. Quarterbacks who tested him paid the price — he allowed just a 66.7 passer rating when targeted and gave up only 31 receptions on 62 attempts.

Now, with former All-Pro Marlon Humphrey transitioning into a nickel role and veteran Chidobe Awuzie joining as the other projected starter, the Ravens are turning to Wiggins to take over as the top outside corner — a meteoric rise for a player who won’t turn 22 until August.

“He was functionally their CB1 last year,” ESPN’s Ben Solak recently wrote. “Highly competitive and physical at the line of scrimmage, Wiggins played his best ball against elite receivers like Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Malik Nabers. If he finds consistency, he’ll be considered one of the league’s best.”

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) and Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) defend a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (88) during the second half at AT&T Stadium© Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Wiggins was never short on talent. At Clemson, he was a game-breaker with elite closing speed and long-range coverage ability. Across 34 games from 2021-23, he logged 24 pass breakups, three interceptions — two of which he returned for touchdowns — and became the first Clemson defender in over 40 years to score pick-sixes in back-to-back seasons.

He was a first-team All-ACC selection in 2023 and a critical piece in wins over ACC stars like Drake Maye, who threw two of his rare interceptions to Wiggins.

But while his traits were always there, his transformation into a complete, physical corner didn’t happen overnight. Now in Baltimore, the same evolution is playing out — just on a much bigger stage.

The pressure is real. Behind Wiggins and Awuzie, the Ravens’ cornerback depth features unproven names like Jalyn Armour-Davis and rookies T.J. Tampa and Bilhal Kone. That puts even more responsibility on Wiggins to step up as the guy — not just a promising young DB, but the cornerstone of Baltimore’s next great defense.

The former Tiger has proven he can handle pressure. Now he’s being asked to lead. And if his track record in Clemson and early NFL flashes are any indication, Nate Wiggins might just be built for it.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 6, 2025, where it first appeared.

Nate Wiggins Drawing CB1 Buzz After Impressive Rookie Season With Ravens

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