Nate Wiggins is giving the Ravens exactly the kind of early signs they were hoping for.
Baltimore spent the offseason overhauling almost every part of its roster after a disappointing 2025 season, but the cornerback room mostly stayed intact. The only notable addition was Chandler Rivers, a fifth-round pick. That decision drew plenty of attention after the Ravens allowed the third-most passing yards, but it also made one thing clear: the organization is betting big on Wiggins.
So far, that bet is looking pretty smart. Wiggins has been one of the best players on the field in training camp, and he was turning heads in OTAs, too. If this keeps up, he has a real chance to grow into the lockdown CB1 Baltimore believes he can become.
The buzz around him has only grown in recent days. After Friday’s practice, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver called Wiggins laser-focused and said the sky’s the limit for him. Ravens reporter Cordell Woodland also noted that Wiggins looked like a shutdown corner after day three of training camp, adding that every time he was involved in the play, the receiver didn’t catch the ball.
Baltimore even highlighted one of those moments with a clip of Wiggins breaking up a pass against Rashod Bateman.
NATE 🚫 @WigginNathaniel pic.twitter.com/9kbWLeeGG2
- Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 31, 2026
There’s still some work to do, and Wiggins’ 2025 season reflected that. He gave up a 76.6 passer rating when targeted and a 60.7 completion rate, while also picking off three passes.
Those numbers were respectable, but they weren’t as strong as his rookie season, and his PFF grade dropped to 63.8. The most glaring issue was the yardage: he allowed the second-most yards in coverage in the league, trailing only Marlon Humphrey.
The context matters, though. The Ravens’ pass rush didn’t give quarterbacks much trouble, which made life harder for the secondary, and the coaching staff took plenty of heat for it.
Wiggins also spent plenty of time tracking the opposing team’s top receiver, which is no small assignment. With Humphrey declining, Wiggins has already emerged as the team’s best corner in my eyes.
There’s also reason to think the setup around him is better now. Jesse Minter, who is known not just as a defensive guru but for his work with the secondary, should be able to get more out of Wiggins.
An improved pass rush would help, too. Wiggins himself said he is fully healthy after playing the last two seasons at 60 to 70 percent.
And Baltimore’s roster moves suggest the team is ready for him to take that next step. The front seven looks much stronger with Trey Hendrickson, Zion Young, and Calais Campbell joining the fold, while Nnamdi Madubuike is back from injury. At safety, Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks have a strong case to be the best duo in the league.
If Wiggins turns into the star the Ravens think he can be, the whole defense changes. The cornerback group would go from a question mark to something much closer to a strength, and Baltimore would have the kind of shutdown defender who can erase an opposing receiver on any given Sunday. That’s the profile Wiggins is built for, and the early signs point to a breakout being well within reach.
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Ravens Suddenly Face A New Problem Protecting Lamar Jackson
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Now the roster spot opens back up, and it comes at a time when the Ravens are still building toward the upcoming season. With Adeniji no longer in the picture, the team may need to add another offensive lineman to help round out the depth chart, leaving one more question for a line that rarely gets the luxury of standing still. [Read more 🡒]