Ravens’ young defensive weapon is sharpening his game where it matters most

When it comes to the most talented secondaries in the NFL heading into the 2025 regular season, the Baltimore Ravens top most lists. Despite an underwhelming campaign from the defense last year, players like Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey proved to be forces to be reckoned with. Ahead of this season, they have gotten even better.

Veteran cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie were key additions to bolster the corner room, and versatile safety Malaki Starks was added in the NFL Draft to help tighten up play in the back end. The most crucial change, though, could be the development of one of the defensive backs who inhabited the unit last year. That player is second-year corner Nate Wiggins.

Wiggins had a strong end to his rookie campaign. After some early-season turmoil where he struggled to earn the starting role, he broke onto the season halfway through the year and progressed with each week. This past offseason has seen Wiggins grow into his frame, and it looks like he could tap into his potential in 2025.

Following Saturday’s training camp, Wiggins discussed his vision for the upcoming season. Baltimore’s senior defensive assistant and secondary coach, Chuck Pagano, mentioned the game is slowing down for the 21-year-old, and Wiggins dove into what exactly has gone into that.

“Just seeing the route concepts, getting to know the NFL better, and just the concept of the routes, how deep a route is,” Wiggins said. “Last year I was just playing with my talent, what God has given me, so it’s gonna be a total different ball game this year. Now I know the routes, how they want to run the routes, so it’s slowing down everything.”

Nate Wiggins is on pace to be elite in 2025

Wiggins has all the traits to be a superstar. When he was drafted with the 30th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Ravens ran the card up immediately because they knew how special he could be. They saw glimpses of it in the second half of last season, and now, they should get a full campaign of Wiggins at his best.

The increase in his understanding of the game should allow him to do what he does best, which is creating turnovers. At Clemson, he was always a threat to take interceptions back for six points. This year, he has aspirations to create at least 10 turnovers for a Baltimore defense that lacked a turnover-creator next to Humphrey. His understanding of route concepts should help him blossom in that role.

“Knowing where my help's at is gonna make me make my plays on the ball this year,” Wiggins said. “Now it’s about playing fast and just going to get the ball.”

If Wiggins can create more turnover opportunities and prove to be smarter and tighter in coverage, it should help the defensive unit make a complete 180 from where they were in 2024.

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