Nate Wiggins is proving why the Ravens were right to believe in him

After a disappointing 2025 season, the Baltimore Ravens upgraded nearly every position room this offseason. Curiously, though, they didn't pursue major upgrades to their cornerback room, outside of drafting Chandler Rivers in the fifth-round.

Doing so after giving up the third-most passing yards was a controversial move. In all fairness, the Ravens' lack of pass rush allowed opposing quarterbacks to get comfortable and dice up the defense. Without a doubt, though, the Ravens' offseason direction was a vote of confidence in third-year corner Nate Wiggins.

While it's early, Wiggins has been a standout in training camp so far (which was also the case in OTAs). He's been one of the best players on the field, and if he continues to showcase his elite traits, he could soon become the lockdown CB1 that the Ravens believe he can be.

Nate Wiggins having a breakout season would be a game-changer for the Baltimore Ravens

After Friday's practice, defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver described Wiggins as laser-focused and said the sky's the limit for him. Furthermore, Ravens reporter Cordell Woodland noted that Wiggins looked like a shutdown corner after day three of training camp, and that every time he was involved in the play, the receiver didn't catch the ball.

Here's a clip of him breaking up a pass against Rashod Bateman.

Wiggins' 2025 season was a mixed bag. He allowed a 76.6 passer rating when targeted, a 60.7 completion rate, and grabbed three interceptions -- that's pretty solid. Regardless, his passer rating and completion rate numbers were better as a rookie, and his PFF grade fell to 63.8. Worst of all, he allowed the second-most yards in coverage in the entire league (right behind Marlon Humphrey).

I certainly put most of the blame on the Ravens' coaching staff (Zach Orr, you won't be missed) and poor pass rush. Jesse Minter, who is not just a defensive guru but whose specialty is secondary, should be able to maximize Wiggins, and an upgraded pass rush should further benefit him.

Plus, despite some of the shaky stats, it's worth noting that Wiggins often defended the opposing team's best WR. With Humphrey declining, Wiggins has already established himself as the best corner on the team in my eyes. And as mentioned, the Ravens' offseason shows that they believe in him a ton.

Wiggins also said that he is fully healthy after playing the last two seasons at 60 to 70 percent.

Make no mistake, he definitely has another gear to reach, but thankfully, the early training camp signs indicate that Wiggins is up for the task. Wiggins making a star-level leap would be an absolute game-changer for the Ravens' defense (in addition to vindicating Eric DeCosta's offseason).

As is, the Ravens' front seven looks much improved with Trey Hendrickson, Zion Young, and Calais Campbell joining the fold, along with Nnamdi Madubuike returning from injury. Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks have a strong case to be the best safety duo, too.

If Wiggins levels up, the Ravens' cornerback room could go from a bit of a concern to pretty stellar, and this defense would truly be a force to be reckoned with.

Additionally, having a shutdown corner who can take opposing star receivers out of games is a massive advantage for any team. Few corners can truly do this, but at his best, that's exactly what Wiggins is built to be.

When you combine the positive buzz around him, some of his flashes of brilliance, and the improved roster context, it's easy to believe that Wiggins will have a breakout season.

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