The Pittsburgh Steelers could go any number of directions in the 2024 NFL Draft, but some obvious candidates are emerging that the team could like at 20th overall. Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims remains the favorite for the pick, and rightfully so since he has the trifecta of interest from the NFL Combine to Pro Day to now an official 30 visit.
Before Thursday, he stood alone in that mark of players who checked all three boxes. But he no longer stands alone. Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins checks all of the boxes from the team for their interest level, too. The team met with him formally at the NFL Combine. Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin were at his pro day, and they took him out to dinner the night before his pro day. Lastly, Wiggins came for an official 30 visit.
And in the latest CBS Sports mock draft, the team lands Wiggins.
“Pittsburgh gets another young cornerback a year after drafting Joey Porter Jr. in the second round. The duo will look to contain opposing AFC North quarterbacks Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson,” they wrote.
Wiggins is a fluid, ball-hawking cornerback that fits well in most defenses. On Clemson’s tape, they often played him toward the boundary, and he rose to challenges throughout their games. It sticks out just how smart Wiggins is on tape, too, as he can drop back in zone coverage and make impressive plays through his route recognition. At 6-foot-2, Wiggins has both good size and length, and thus, versatility to walk up a bit on receivers and get physical with him, but he is only 185 pounds, and that can lead to some issues.
His frame is a bit light, and while it’s not as bad as someone like Emmanuel Forbes from last year, he can still have some reps where he gets bullied in the screen game or against the run. Still, he shows an appetite to compete on the field, and has noticeably put effort into improving his tackling, especially on plays in space. He is a worthy pick at 20th overall, and would fit well across from Joey Porter Jr.
More must-reads: