Louis Riddick loves this 2024 draft pick from Clemson.

The ESPN analyst didn’t hesitate when asked, following this year’s draft, to give his favorite pick from the first round.

Riddick promptly named Nate Wiggins and raved about the former Tiger cornerback, who was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 30th overall pick.

Riddick — a Pitt grad who had a seven-year career as an NFL safety before spending a decade as an NFL scout and Director of Pro Personnel — says Wiggins, a 2023 first-team All-ACC selection, is a perfect fit for the Ravens’ secondary, defense and franchise overall.

Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) during the 4th quarter quarters Saturday, November 18, 2023 at Clemson’s Memorial Stadium. Bart Boatwright/The Clemson Insider

“Look, I don’t think there’s any football team in the NFL that understands exactly what it’s looking for in the makeup of a player, regardless of position, than the Baltimore Ravens,” Riddick said on ESPN’s NFL Live. “Their philosophy has been entrenched for years, since (executive vice president) Ozzie Newsome took over there in the late 90s, and Nate Wiggins fits that perfectly.

“Big, long, rangy in terms of his body type. Over 6-1. Fast, 4.2 in the 40. A guy who is scheme diverse. He can play man, he can play zone, he can play press, he can play off. And here’s the most important thing – he will hit. He will run and hit, and that’s what Baltimore Ravens defensive backs do. That’s what Baltimore Ravens defenders do.”

Wiggins finished his college career (2021-23) with 50 tackles (3.0 for loss), 24 pass breakups, three interceptions (two of which he returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, a sack and a blocked field goal over 34 games (18 starts).

The 6-foot-1 speedster scored touchdowns of 98 yards (an ACC Championship Game record) and 46 yards on pick-sixes in 2022 and 2023, respectively, becoming the first Clemson player since Rex Varn in 1977-78 to score on an interception return in back-to-back seasons.

Wiggins also accounted for two of the 16 career interceptions thrown by North Carolina’s Drake Maye, who was selected by the New England Patriots with the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft.

Riddick clearly sees a bright future for Wiggins in Baltimore and called him “a prototypical Raven.”

“There is no better time than sitting and talking football with John Harbaugh, the head coach of the Ravens,” Riddick said. “And this guy, as soon as he was picked… I said, ‘This guy plays like a Raven.’ I could hear it right now in their draft room. They’re saying, ‘This is a Raven.’ This is a prototypical Raven. Obviously fit is the most important thing when you’re talking about any player. Nate Wiggins fits perfectly into Baltimore’s culture I believe.”

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