Ravens Received Trade Calls On CB T.J. Tampa

Starting cornerback Nate Wiggins was carted off the field after a 1-on-1 rep against rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane, raising concern that he had suffered a serious leg injury. But an MRI revealed that would not be the case, per Zrebiec. Wiggins will miss some time, but he is expected to return “sooner rather than later.”

In the interim, Tampa could step into a starting role in Baltimore’s secondary. New head coach Jesse Minter is expected to continue the team’s heavy use of three-safety defensive formations with Kyle Hamilton often dropped into the slot. Tampa would replace Wiggins on the boundary opposite Marlon Humphrey. The other prime candidate for that spot is nine-year veteran Chidobe Awuzie, who started five games for the Ravens last year.

Originally pegged as a potential Day 2 pick, Tampa fell to the Ravens in the fourth round of the 2024 draft and had an uneven rookie year due to multiple injuries. He missed part of his first training camp after undergoing sports hernia surgery and later landed on injured reserve with an ankle injury. The Iowa State product appeared in seven games with a core special teams role but just 18 snaps on defense.

In 2025, Tampa stayed healthy and appeared in every game (one start), continuing his heavy special teams involvement while playing 147 snaps on defense. He made the most of his defensive opportunities, notching one interception and two pass break-ups on 13 targets while allowing just eight catches for 70 yards. He also missed just one of his 30 tackle attempts, a major improvement on one of his weaknesses coming out of college.

Tampa stood out during spring practices and has continued his strong play into the summer with frequent plays on the ball at training camp. Still just 24 years old with two years and $2.265MM remaining on his rookie contract (via OverTheCap), other teams could see him as an ascending player with potential to step into a starting role in the near future.

The Ravens, though, seem to view him the same way, and as Tuesday’s practice demonstrated, cornerback depth can evaporate quickly. With Wiggins sidelined, the team has even more reason to reject overtures regarding Tampa. He could even factor into the long-term future of the cornerback room. Humphrey and Awuzie are set to hit free agency next offseason, so Tampa could be tapped to start in 2027, and potentially beyond.