Bigger, Stronger, Hungrier: Nate Wiggins Eyes Breakout Year Two in Baltimore

Nate Wiggins has never lacked confidence. Whether it was locking down elite receivers at Clemson or running a blazing 4.28 at the NFL Combine, the former Tigers star has long carried himself like a player with something to prove.

Now entering his second year with the Baltimore Ravens, the 30th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft is channeling that same energy — only this time, with a little more muscle, a lot more experience, and the same chip on his shoulder.

“A lot of teams doubted me, saying I wasn’t ready. Too small,” Wiggins said recently on The Lounge podcast. “It’s definitely still going to be a chip on my shoulder.”

Wiggins, the third cornerback selected in last year’s draft behind Quinyon Mitchell (Eagles, No. 20) and Terrion Arnold (Lions, No. 22), put together a strong rookie campaign that made his draft-day slide look like a mistake. He finished 2024 with 33 tackles, 13 pass breakups — tied for 13th in the league — and a 26-yard pick-six. He played in 15 of Baltimore’s 17 games and started six, including both of the Ravens’ playoff contests.

Still, durability concerns lingered. Wiggins, listed at 6-foot-1 and just 173 pounds at the Combine, missed two games due to injury and admitted the physical toll of an NFL season was something he had to adjust to.

“Just hitting the ground, my shoulders [and] body couldn’t absorb the contact,” he said as the  Ravens wrapped up the second week of OTAs. 

This offseason, Wiggins set out to change that. His goal? Add weight, get stronger, and prepare for a 17-game grind.

“Obviously it was a big offseason for me. Just gain weight and get stronger,” Wiggins said. “I gained like 10 pounds. [I’m] a lot stronger, a lot bigger.”

Asked how he bulked up, Wiggins smiled: “I would eat a lot of steak and a lot of protein, like mashed potatoes.”

That extra mass, paired with a full offseason in Baltimore’s system, has impressed defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who sees a more composed Wiggins heading into 2025.

"I thought Nate did a great job going to work this offseason, putting weight on," Orr said Thursday during OTAs. “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. Man, that guy right there — if he takes his technique to another level on a consistent basis, the sky is the limit for him.”

That ceiling could rise even higher with the help of another Clemson legend now wearing Ravens purple: five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver DeAndre “Nuk” Hopkins, who signed with Baltimore in March after a short stint with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“I mean, it’s amazing because we both went to Clemson and know the Clemson style,” Wiggins said of having Hopkins in Baltimore and matching up with him in practice. “He came to Clemson when I was there. So, we got a lot of connections. It’s his 12th year in the league. It’s great going against him. He could teach me a lot.”

As the Ravens aim to make another deep playoff run, Wiggins looks primed to take on a bigger role in the secondary. He’s stronger. He’s smarter. And perhaps most importantly — he’s still got something to prove.

And that might be the most dangerous version of Nate Wiggins yet.