The prevailing thought is that the Baltimore Ravens boast one of the best rosters in the NFL heading into the 2025 campaign, and some would even go as far to say that they have the best roster on paper, period.
While much of that is thanks to an explosive offense that features Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, the Ravens also have some terrific players on the defensive side of the ball, which should not come as much of a surprise given their history.
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We know that Baltimore’s pass rush — which tallied 54 sacks last season — is fierce, but additionally, the Ravens’ secondary is a force, especially after adding Jaire Alexander following the Green Bay Packers’ decision to cut him.
One player in particular that is beginning to garner national attention is cornerback Nate Wiggins, who enjoyed an impressive rookie campaign in 2024 when he registered 33 tackles, an interception (which he returned for a touchdown) and 13 passes defended in 15 games. He also managed a 70.7 overall grade at Pro Football Focus.
Baltimore still has a long way to go before worrying about the former first-round pick’s contract, but ESPN’s Seth Walder seems to believe the Ravens won’t waste any time in handing him a new deal. In fact, he thinks Baltimore will lock up Wiggins as soon as he becomes eligible for an extension.
“After three seasons in the league, Nate Wiggins will sign a market-setting contract extension for cornerbacks during the 2027 offseason,” Walder wrote. “He had a strong rookie campaign, allowing 0.9 yards per coverage snap (better than average) and minus-28 EPA allowed as the nearest defender (best among all outside corners), per NFL Next Gen Stats.”
Cornerbacks certainly became rich this offseason. First, Jaycee Horn signed a record-setting extension with the Carolina Panthers. Houston Texans star Derek Stingley Jr. then broke his record just over a week later. Finally, last month, the New York Jets inked Sauce Gardner to a record-breaking deal.
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In a modern NFL where the aerial attack reigns as king, you must have good cornerbacks to be able to contend, so it’s no surprise that teams are placing extra emphasis on the position.
Of course, Wiggins still has a whole lot to prove on the professional level, but it’s hard to ignore what he achieved in his first season on the circuit. There is no doubt he is trending upward, and within a couple of years, the 21-year-old may very well be the best the cornerback position has to offer.
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