With the 30th selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens have selected Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins. Baltimore Beatdown Staff’s instant reactions:
General manager Eric DeCosta landed a bonafide steal with Wiggins late in the first round. The cover corner with rare speed and agility was mocked as a top-20 pick throughout the draft cycle but Baltimore, true to form, was able to land the Clemson product at 30 overall. Cornerback has arguably been the primary position responsible for the Ravens defensive dynasty during the last few decades and Wiggins has the skillset to carry-on that tradition with sticky “seatbelt” coverage prowess that is rarely available beyond the lottery picks. Solid double with homerun potential is the Ozzie Newsome Ravens Way. If DeCosta can add a couple more playmakers on Day 2 of the draft, the Ravens will be well prepared for a rematch with the Chiefs next postseason.
– Vasilis Lericos
The Ravens were due to draft a cornerback in Round 1 having not done so since 2017, which has been well-documented. They had their choice of a few notable prospects available at pick No. 30 and went with Wiggins, who evidently was their highest-rated player. Wiggins is an elite athlete with great coverage and playmaking skills. His 4.28 speed and impressive agility should make him an immediate impact player in the Ravens’ secondary. The Ravens needed added depth and injury insurance in the short term while also lacking another long-term, foundational piece at the position. Given his slighter frame and size, there are some run support and tackling concerns with Wiggins. However, he checks a lot of boxes and is a solid value selection at the end of the first round.
– Frank Platko
Patience paid off for general manager Eric DeCosta and the Ravens again as they landed arguably the best pure cover cornerback in this year’s class according to many pundits and DeCosta himself. On a night dominated by offense, they came away with tremendous value who could be a potential perennial Pro Bowler. Wiggins possesses great athleticism, speed and natural coverage ability and plays with relentless effort. He will join forces with Brandon Stephens and Marlon Humphrey in the Ravens’ starting outside corner rotation as a rookie and could be replacing one of them next year. Stephens is heading into a contract year and Humphrey is getting older and coming off an injury-plagued 2023 season so this was a great pick for both the present and future.
– Joshua Reed
It’s not the corner I would have picked in that spot with Cooper DeJean and Kool-Aid McKinstry on the board. But the Ravens got “the best cover corner in the draft” according to General Manager Eric DeCosta. While the size is certainly a question, the ability to play isn’t. Nate Wiggins a long and fast corner. With a 4.28 40-yard dash, Wiggins has all the athletics to cover NFL wide receivers. The question is if his weight at 182 lbs is going to be enough to hold up at the NFL level. But he plays physical and has the body to add on some more weight. With the Ravens already having Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens already, Wiggins doesn’t need to be a run support guy right away. With the Chiefs drafting a wide receiver who ran a 4.21, it’s hard to be mad at a speedy corner like Wiggins.
– Zach Canter
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