A look at pundits and experts grades on the first-round selection.
The Ravens selected cornerback Nate Wiggins out of Clemson at 30th overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. Let’s see how the NFL experts graded the pick.
The Athletic
Author: Nick Baumgardner
Grade: A-
One of the faster players on the board (4.28 40 at the combine), Wiggins is quick off the line of scrimmage and also possesses excellent second-level speed — a combination that makes him incredibly difficult to beat vertically. Wiggins’ length (6-1 with almost 31-inch arms) is also a plus. He got his hands on a combined 25 passes over the last two seasons at Clemson.
The question marks here are size and power. Wiggins weighed 173 pounds at the combine, before checking in at a reported 182 pounds at his pro day. He was mainly an outside-only corner in college, and it remains to be seen how much he can give the Ravens against the run. He’s a first-round talent in this draft, though, to be sure.
CBS Sports
Author: Pete Prisco
Grade: B+
They have a need at corner and Wiggins might be the best cover player of all of them. He isn’t a great tackler, but he can lock on and play press man in their defense. He just needs to improve his tackling.
Pro Football Focus
Pick Grade: Good
The Ravens select the lengthy but light Wiggins to play alongside Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton in their secondary. Wiggins’ closing speed is elite, and he showed good press ability in college despite his frame. He led the ACC with an 89.4 PFF coverage grade over the last two seasons. If he can handle NFL receivers’ play strength, he has immense potential.
Bleacher Report
Author: Brent Sobleski
Grade: D
Strengths: Elite recovery speed and smooth through transitions, smart in zone coverage and competes hard in man coverage
Weaknesses: Lacks physicality, particularly as a tackler with the play in front of him, rail thin, won’t always trust technique when working down the field
While Wiggins’ coverage skills are his biggest concern heading into the NFL, those two [chase down fumble plays] show off his explosive 4.28-second 40-yard-dash speed and relentlessness. He could have easily given up on plays that initially looked like sure touchdowns. He didn’t. Those moments speak well of the 20-year-old’s competitiveness.
That competitiveness shows up in coverage, too. The first-team All-ACC selection allowed only one touchdown and a 44.4 passer rating when targeted this past season, according to Pro Football Focus. His thin frame (173 lbs) is worrisome, but 166-pound cornerback Emmanuel Forbes went in the first round last year.
The Baltimore Ravens are well-known for their ability to find value at the NFL draft. Wiggins doesn’t exactly fit their modus operandi, though.
The Ravens needed cornerback help, but the offensive line is a far more glaring problem right now. Wiggins isn’t a significantly better value than BYU’s Kingsley Suamataia, Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson, Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe or Kansas’ Dominick Puni. All of them were in a similar range on the final B/R Scouting Department big board.
NFL.com
Author: Chad Reuter
Grade: B
Analysis: Wiggins’ recovery speed stood out on tape and was confirmed with a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He’s not a physical tackler but is competitive at the catch point. Wiggins weighed just 173 pounds (measuring 6-foot-1 3/8 inch) at the combine, which is reminiscent of last year’s lean first-round corner for Washington, Emmanuel Forbes, who struggled as a rookie. The Ravens passed on Kool-Aid McKinstry to pick Wiggins and did not address the offensive tackle position despite Ronnie Stanley’s injury history and the trade of Morgan Moses.
Sporting News
Author: Vinnie Iyer
Grade: A
The Ravens are ready to push forward at corner, where they needed some depth behind Marlon Humphrey and a potential upgrade from Brandon Stephens outside. They had to grab a falling Wiggins for his size, speedy, and savvy playmaking.
The Ringer
Author: Danny Kelly
Grade: B+
Grade: B+. It feels like the Ravens sit back and scoop up good players in the back end of the first round every year, and they did it again here. Wiggins is wiry thin and weighed in at just 173 pounds at the combine, but he brings electric speed (4.28-second 40-yard dash) and plays with instincts in coverage. He’s a plug-and-play starter on the outside opposite Marlon Humphrey.
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