The Baltimore Ravens have one of the league’s best defenses heading into the 2025 NFL season, and they are especially loaded in the secondary. After a disappointing 2024 campaign, the unit is on the rise this year, but they are also expected to continue to grow over the next few seasons.
There is a ton of young talent scattered across the team’s defense. Rookies Malaki Starks and Mike Green should be immediate contributors, defensive tackle Travis Jones is an extremely underrated defender, and cornerback Nate Wiggins is quickly becoming a fast-rising star in the league.
Wiggins is perhaps the most exciting piece within the group moving forward. The 21-year-old had a terrific rookie campaign, and he is just getting acclimated to the NFL level. He mentioned how last season he was playing off God-given talent, but now, he is starting to understand how to play corner.
The future is bright for Wiggins, and analysts are starting to take notice. He possesses all the talent in the world to be a top corner, and 2025 should be an introduction to what he could become.
ESPN broke down the future of all 32 NFL teams, and the Ravens ranked second on the list. As a part of the analysis, writer Seth Walder offered a bold prediction for each team. His prediction for Baltimore was centered around the future of Wiggins. Walder wrote:
“After three seasons in the league, Nate Wiggins will sign a market-setting contract extension for cornerbacks during the 2027 offseason. 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.”
Nate Wiggins is on track to become an elite cornerback
As is the case with most rookies, especially corners, Wiggins had a rough start to his NFL career, but he put together an above-average campaign by season’s end. He finished with a 70.7 overall grade per Pro Football Focus (42nd among corners), and he had a strong final stretch that also included a great playoff debut.
Ravens rookie CB Nate Wiggins over his last 9 games (per PFF):
— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) December 26, 2024
18-41 targets
211 yards
0 TDs
6 PBUs
60.1 passer rating
Setting a record extension for corners in a couple of years is bold, but the former Clemson Tiger is capable. He has been earning praise from nearly every coach and player on the Ravens this offseason, including all-time great wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. All signs point toward significant strides in year two.
13-year NFL vet & future Hall of Famer DeAndre Hopkins on who he most enjoys going up against in Baltimore's secondary:
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) August 11, 2025
"I like going against all of 'em, but I would say specifically Nate Wiggins. He's a young guy who loves competing and wants to be great. ... He has every… pic.twitter.com/vYlsJzGy74
Wiggins has experienced some struggles in camp, but his career is on an upward trajectory. Coaches are loving what they see, and with a stacked secondary, it should be borderline impossible to find consistent success against the unit.