Latest news with #NateWiggins
New York Times
27 minutes ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Ravens CB Nate Wiggins had a strong rookie season. Now, he's learning to be a pro
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens secondary coach Chuck Pagano didn't wait for the play to officially end. As cornerback Nate Wiggins headed upfield, setting up his blocks along the way, following an interception of an overthrown pass during Friday's organized team activity, Pagano broke out the celebratory dance moves on the sideline. Advertisement The 64-year-old coach shuffled up and down and waved his right arm in the air as if he were riding an imaginary horse. It doesn't take much to get Pagano going, but the sight of Wiggins securing the football and using his speed to race toward the end zone was enough to get anybody associated with the Ravens excited. Wiggins, a first-round pick in 2024, had a strong rookie season. He played in all but two games, broke up 13 passes and held quarterbacks to a 66.7 passer rating when they targeted him. Wiggins allowed just 31 receptions on 62 targets, forced a key fumble in Dallas and had a pick six in the Week 18 regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns. Yet, it was hard for Ravens coaches this offseason not to think about how much better Wiggins could get when he became a little stronger and had a better grasp of the fundamentals of the cornerback position and how offenses were attacking him. 'Last year, he was just running like a chicken with his head cut off, trying to figure out what to do,' Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said last week. 'Now, he understands the system. He understands the defense. He's been in the league for a year, so he understands formations from offenses. Now, he can really just hone in on his technique. Man, that guy right there, he takes his technique to another level on a consistent basis. The sky's the limit for him.' Wiggins, who had an interception and a pass breakup in the Ravens' last OTA on Friday, is off to a solid start this offseason. He's added 10 pounds after prioritizing getting bigger and stronger. Possessing a better understanding of the position, he's playing with more decisiveness and confidence. And he no longer has to wonder about his role on a week-to-week basis. The Ravens, influenced partly by health issues for Wiggins in the first half of the season, somewhat eased the rookie in. He played more than 75 percent of the team's defensive snaps just twice over Baltimore's first 10 games. But those days are over. He'll enter the 2025 season as a starting outside corner and one of the Ravens' core defenders. He says he's ready for that. Advertisement 'Last season, I didn't feel like I was really a pro yet,' Wiggins said Friday. 'Now, I'm knowing how to be a pro. I feel like now it's going to pay off.' The Ravens lost some key pieces from last year's defense, which started agonizingly slow but turned things around and was playing at a high level by season's end. Nose tackle Michael Pierce retired. Starting cornerback Brandon Stephens departed to the New York Jets in free agency. Malik Harrison and Chris Board, part of the linebacker rotation, signed elsewhere. Baltimore's cornerback depth thinned out with veterans Tre'Davious White and Arthur Maulet not returning. Safety Ar'Darius Washington, whose ascension into the starting lineup was a catalyst for the defensive turnaround, tore his Achilles during a May workout and will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season. Meanwhile, Baltimore general manager Eric DeCosta's two most prominent veteran defensive additions were Chidobe Awuzie, who will likely compete for the No. 3 or 4 cornerback role, and John Jenkins, a rotational defensive lineman. If the Ravens are going to build off of where last year's defense finished, they'll be relying heavily on the development of their young players, and that includes members of the team's rookie class. That means third-year pro Trenton Simpson, who is poised to reclaim his starting inside linebacker spot alongside Roquan Smith; first-round safety Malaki Starks, who will almost certainly be a day one starter; and young edge rushers Mike Green and Adisa Isaac, Day 2 selections over the past two drafts who will be counted on to add some pass-rushing juice. That also means Wiggins, who team officials believe has star potential if he stays healthy and learns the nuances of the cornerback position. More takeaways, like the one in Friday's practice, would help, too. A recent guest on 'The Lounge' podcast, Wiggins told the team website that one of his goals is to create 10-plus turnovers (interceptions or forced fumbles) in 2025. He had two last year. Advertisement 'I expect him to be locked in and focused on the little things,' Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Friday. 'Raindrops make oceans, man. Lock in on every little detail to be great, and that's what he's focusing on.' When Wiggins entered the league after a strong final season at Clemson, there was little doubt that he could run with NFL receivers. He clocked a blistering 4.28 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. Only Kansas City Chiefs first-round wide receiver Xavier Worthy (4.21) beat that time. The concerns were over whether Wiggins, who weighed just 173 pounds at the combine, would hold up physically, particularly against bigger receivers, and also against running backs had he needed to make a tackle on the outside. Wiggins held his own physically as a rookie, but he acknowledged that he didn't feel like he was able to protect himself as well as needed. That, in his mind, led to some of the physical issues that he played through for much of last year. 'Injury wasn't my big thing last year, (but) just hitting the ground,' Wiggins said. 'With my shoulders hitting the ground, the body couldn't absorb the contact. So it was really just getting my body (ready to) take the contact.' Wiggins said he has a really fast metabolism and has always struggled to put on weight. He loaded up on steak, mashed potatoes and proteins this offseason to add 10 pounds and get up to 185. It's a start for a player whose speed remains his biggest attribute. Now, the Ravens would like to see Wiggins utilize his increased strength. 'I thought Nate did a great job going to work this offseason, putting weight on,' Orr said. 'That's a testament to him and the strength coaches coming up with a great plan. Obviously, he followed it. The weight is real, so that's good to see, but what I see him focusing on now, he's more locked in on his fundamentals and technique on a more consistent basis.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nate Wiggins Impressive Ravens' Brass With Weight Gain
Nate Wiggins Impressive Ravens' Brass With Weight Gain originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Baltimore Ravens' recent stretch of first-round picks has set them up for long-term success. Nowhere is this more pertinent than the secondary, where safety Kyle Hamilton blossomed into a superstar and corner Nate Wiggins impressed in Year 1. In April, they added high-profile safety Malaki Starks to the unit, adding even more upside to the defense. Advertisement Of course, first-round picks are supposed to come with immense talent; these selections have. But both Hamilton and Wiggins have shown a knack for improving, the latter developing throughout his rookie season. Now, he's aiming for an even better second season, and he's doing it with the power of protein. The young Ravens cornerback is impressing with his bigger frame at OTAs, which he talked about on Friday. "Since last season to know I gained 10 pounds," Wiggins said, via team transcript. "This year, it's going to be like more power, more strength. I'm still training to gain more pounds. I'm not a big fan of eating… [but] I'm forcing myself to eat." Advertisement Wiggins stood out in coverage as a rookie, logging an interception and 13 passes defended. Playing against the run and holding his own against bigger receivers, though, gave him a little more trouble. "Really just, I was just [getting hit] a lot. Injury wasn't my big thing last year, [but] just hitting the ground,' he said. 'With my shoulders hitting the ground, [my] body couldn't absorb the contact [well]. So it was really just getting [ready] my body [to be able to] take the contact." Nevertheless, Wiggins will have a lot on his plate as Baltimore takes on the gauntlet of AFC quarterbacks. He'll be expected to take another step forward on the boundary to give the Ravens one of the league's best secondaries. According to defensive coordinator Zach Orr, he's well on his way to doing so. Advertisement "I thought Nate did a great job going to work this offseason, putting weight on," Orr said on Thursday, via the team's website. "That's a testament to him and the strength coaches coming up with a great plan. Obviously, he followed it. "He's more locked in on his fundamentals and technique on a more consistent basis. He got to that point towards the middle end of the season, but last year, he was just running like a chicken with his head cut off, trying to figure out what to do. Now, he understands the system. He understands the defense. He's been in the league for a year, so he understands formations from offenses.' Entering the league at 173 pounds with 30.5-inch arms, size will always be an issue for Wiggins. Mitigating how much it detracts from his game could decide his fate in Baltimore. 'Man, that guy right there, if he takes his technique to another level on a consistent basis, the sky is the limit for him." Advertisement Related: Ravens' Oweh Bulking Up for Pivotal 2025 Related: Ravens' Kyle Hamilton Takes Top Spot in Latest Safety Ranking This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
08-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ravens star primed for second-year leap after landing on list of breakout candidates
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.
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nate Wiggins excelled at man coverage during his rookie NFL season
Nate Wiggins excelled at man coverage during his rookie NFL season Nate Wiggins deployable skill had to delight Zach Orr in 2024 Baltimore Ravens defensive back Nate Wiggins played exceptionally well during his rookie season with the franchise. Alongside veteran Marlon Humphrey, Wiggins led the team in pass deflections, making his presence felt on the outside against elite opposing NFL wide receivers. Nevertheless, the franchise doubled back in the 2025 NFL Draft by selecting another potent young talent in Malaki Starks just a week ago. Having built the confidence to play at the NFL level through trial in the previous postseason, Wiggins should be prone to make an even bigger impact in season two. As we all know, the Ravens began the 2024 NFL season ranked near the bottom of the NFL in pass yards allowed per game. Struggling to commit to man coverage, defensive coordinator Zach Orr worked to identify ways to implement combo coverages. Wiggins was often responsible for covering one-on-one, while teammate Marlon Humphrey would frequently cover the underneath slot wide receivers to take away easy throws for opposing quarterbacks. Wiggins, having already enjoyed the company of safety Kyle Hamilton and A'darius Washington, will now be accompanied by a sizable threat in Starks, who may be deployed in defensive coordinator Zach Orr's Big Nickel package. The upside for the Ravens' defense this upcoming season is limitless, and if things manifest to their potential, the way they appear on paper, this will greatly help them down the stretch. Ultimately, Wiggins is likely to bulk up over the summer through conditioning, thus propelling him to be an even better player in the years to come.
CBS News
25-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Who is Malaki Starks, the Baltimore Ravens' 2025 first-round draft pick?
The Baltimore Ravens selected safety Malaki Starks with the 27th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Who is? Malaki Starks was a safety at the University of Georgia. Success in the first round More often than not, the Baltimore Ravens have been successful with their first-round draft picks. It's still too early to tell on 2024 first-round draft pick Nate Wiggins, who showed glimpses of being a stronghold on Baltimore's defense. He had 33 tackles and a pick-6, but he missed two games because of injury. Before that, former first round draft picks Zay Flowers (2023), Kyle Hamilton (2022), Tyler Linderbaum (2022), Rashod Bateman (2021), Odafe Oweh (2021), two-time MVP Lamar Jackson (2018), Marlon Humphrey (2017) and Ronnie Stanley (2016) remain key contributors for the Ravens. Former first-round picks Patrick Queen (2020) and Marquise Brown (2019) had strong moments in the purple and black. In the past, the Ravens selected Joe Flacco (2008), Haloti Ngata (2006), Terrell Suggs (2003), Ed Reed (2002), Jonathan Ogden (1996), and Ray Lewis (1996) in the first round. Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta says they stick by their plan each year and select the best player available. "We've been a best-available-player team, and we spent eight months really building the board based on the rankings of the players and how they stack against each other," DeCosta said. "I think we definitely look at the different needs of our team. We spent a lot of time talking about the roster and the players that we have and things like contract status and all those other things that go into it."
