Ravens star primed for second-year leap after landing on list of breakout candidates

USA Today

08-05-2025

Ravens star primed for second-year leap after landing on list of breakout candidates Baltimore Ravens cornerback Nate Wiggins ranks highly on a list of players poised for a breakout season in 2025.
When it's all said and done and the 2024 Baltimore Ravens draft class decides it's time to hang up the cleats, we hope they'll do so in honor. We also hope that day comes a long time from now.
Some of these guys have some work to do. T.J. Tampa has seven games and four tackles on his resume. That latter number swells to five if one includes the two postseason games he has already played.
Devontez Walker has caught one pass for 21 yards, but to his credit, that reception doubles as his first career touchdown. The Flock is fortunate, however, to have found Nate Wiggins and Roger Rosengarten in that same class. The latter earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America's All-Rookie Team.
The latter enjoyed a respectable debut with 33 tackles, a pick-six interception, 13 pass breakups, and a forced fumble. He earned seven votes for the Associated Press's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award and finished 11th by doing so. Now, an NFL analyst is calling for a potential breakout season.
Nate Wiggins is named among ten potential second-year breakout candidates.
While the Ravens' rookie minicamp has come and gone, Phase 2 of the offseason workout program is set to begin. OTA offseason workouts run from May 27-29, June 3, June 5-6, and June 9-12. The mandatory minicamp dates are June 17-19.
Much is expected of second-year corner Nate Wiggins. A former 2023 First-Team All-ACC nod (Clemson Tigers), he's been named among an impressive list of second-year breakout candidates. Here's what Marc Ross, the writer of this one, mentions as his reason for the young Raven's inclusion.
"After beginning his career with limited reps in the Ravens defense, Wiggins quickly became a reliable cornerback for defensive coordinator Zach Orr. Wiggins held his own on the island and made a ton of plays for arguably the NFL's best defense down the stretch in 2024... I don't necessarily think the rookie got the credit he deserved last season, and it makes sense considering the players around him in Baltimore's secondary, including perennial Pro Bowlers Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey. It won't be long until Wiggins stands alongside them thanks to his immense talent."
Also appearing on the list are the following players:
QB Drake Maye (New England Patriots)
QB Caleb Williams (Chicago Bears)
WR Marvin Harrison Jr. (Arizona Cardinals)
Xavier Legette (Carolina Panthers)
Olumuyiwa Fashanu (NY Jets)
Laiatu Latu (Indianapolis Colts)
Chop Robinson (Miami Dolphins)
Dallas Turner (Minnesota Vikings)
Terrion Arnold (Detroit Lions)
The Ravens are building something special with defensive coordinator Zachary Orr. They drafted safety Malaki Starks and edge rusher Mike Green 27th and 59th overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, respectively. They're also home to Pro Bowlers Nnamdi Madubuike, Kyle Van Noy, Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, and Kyle Hamilton. Another step forward for Wiggins would be precisely what the doctor ordered.
Oh, and by the way, Smith, Humphrey, and Hamilton were all voted as All-Pros. Smith and Humphrey landed on the First Team while Hamilton landed on the Second.