Former Clemson star Nate Wiggins was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round (30th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft, and the Ravens are glad they got him, as Wiggins put together a strong rookie season and proved to be a bright spot for the team while flashing future Pro Bowl cornerback potential.
But where in the league might Wiggins have landed, if there were a do-over of the 2024 NFL Draft?
ESPN, CBS Sports and NFL.com all recently published a re-draft for last April’s draft, assessing which teams they think various players in the 2024 draft class would have gone to, if every team had the chance to go back and pick again.
In ESPN’s re-draft (subscription required), Wiggins was selected by the now-reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 22 overall pick.
The Eagles took Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the actual 2024 draft, but in ESPN’s re-draft, Mitchell went to the Indianapolis Colts with the 15th overall pick.
“With Mitchell off the board, the Eagles could go with another top-ranked corner to address the secondary,” ESPN’s Tim McManus wrote in the re-draft article. “Wiggins had 13 passes defensed and returned an interception for a touchdown for the Ravens this season. Second-round pick Cooper DeJean has been excellent for Philly playing as a slot defender and would be another potential choice here.”
Meanwhile, in the CBS Sports re-draft, Wiggins was taken by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 18th overall selection. In the real 2024 draft, the Bengals took Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims.
“The Bengals opt for defense over an offensive tackle given how disastrous the defense was in 2024,” CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso wrote in the re-draft article. “Wiggins was rock-solid in all phases as a rookie.”
As for NFL.com’s re-draft, Wiggins went to the Green Bay Packers with the No. 21 overall pick.
The Packers actually took Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan with the 25th overall pick in last year’s draft, but in NFL.com’s re-draft, Green Bay traded up with the Miami Dolphins to grab Wiggins with the 21st pick.
“The Packers rode a reasonably well-rounded roster to the playoffs, but Jaire Alexander’s injury issues kept him from making a major impact in 2024 — and his place with the organization appears to be in doubt,” NFL.com’s Ali Bhanpuri and Tom Blair wrote. “Knowing the Eagles’ and Vikings’ proclivities for defensive playmakers, Green Bay jumps up to grab Nate Wiggins, who finished with an EPA when targeted of -28.4, tops among rookies with at least 200 coverage snaps last season, per Next Gen Stats. No matter what happens with Alexander going forward, the speedster could help Xavier McKinney anchor the secondary and keep the team competitive in the tough NFC North.”
Wiggins saw his role steadily increase throughout the year, and by season’s end, he established himself as a quality starter. After limited playing time in the early going, Wiggins continued to improve over the course of the campaign.
In 15 regular season games, the former first-team All-ACC selection tallied 33 tackles, 13 passes defended, a forced fumble and his first career interception – a pick-six in Baltimore’s Week 18 win over the Cleveland Browns. He added six more tackles and a quarterback hit in two playoff games.
By the time the postseason rolled around, Wiggins had carved out a significant role in the Ravens’ secondary and was playing really well while seeing plenty of action on the field. With his length, speed, athleticism and outstanding coverage ability, the future looks bright for Wiggins in Baltimore.
–Photo courtesy of Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images