It seems like this season, Nate Wiggins is swiftly emerging as the type of shutdown corner the Baltimore Ravens thought they were getting when they selected him in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

Wiggins enjoyed a strong rookie campaign last year after being drafted 30th overall. The former Clemson star saw his role steadily increase throughout last season, and by season’s end, he had established himself as a quality starter. After limited playing time in the early going, he continued to improve over the course of the season as he got more and more comfortable as an NFL corner.

Coming into Wiggins’ second NFL campaign, following his rapid growth as a rookie, Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said he expected Wiggins to take a major leap from Year 1 to Year 2 — and become one of the best corners in the NFL.

“We expect him to take that jump from Year 1 to Year 2, a real big jump, and he has the ability and the talent to do it,” Orr said back in April. “So along with him, we have to help him get him there, and I’m confident we’ll do that.”

Wiggins is in the midst of an outstanding sophomore season. Through 13 games, he leads the Ravens in interceptions (three) and passes defended (nine) while ranking fifth on the team with 53 total tackles. The 6-foot-1, 182-pounder is blessed with length, elite speed, athleticism, outstanding coverage ability and a high football IQ, helping him to show his defensive prowess in the NFL.

So, how does Wiggins feel different in Year 2 versus when he was a rookie? Does he feel he is developing into one of league’s top corners?

“I feel like I ain’t even at my best yet right now,” Wiggins said on The Lounge Podcast with Ravens team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing. “I feel like I’m still growing. I feel like my season’s decent right now. I feel like I can be better in some places. So that’s really what I’m striving at, to be better, for real.

“I know I can be way better. I’m definitely confident in myself, though. … I feel like I can compete with anybody on the field.”

That level of confidence in himself, Wiggins says, comes from his mother.

“She’s just always been on me 24/7. She ain’t never let me back down from no challenge,” he said. “I mean, I ain’t want to play football at first, and she threw me on the football field and told my coach, like, he not leaving.”

Wiggins wants the challenge of going up against the best of the best, and he’ll get another opportunity to do just that this Sunday when the Ravens travel to face the AFC North rival Cincinnati Bengals and arguably the NFL’s top wide receiver in Ja’Marr Chase. Former Clemson star and fellow Bengals wideout Tee Higgins (concussion) has been ruled out for the contest.

What is it about that challenge of guarding the clear No. 1 receiver on the opposing team that really gets Wiggins excited going into a game?

“People say I’m the guy,” he said. “People always say if you want to be the guy, you got to go against the guy.”

In 15 regular season games last season, Wiggins 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.

“That’s what I cherish, just getting the ball in my hands and getting in the end zone,” Wiggins said. “Like, I cherish that.”

A former first-team All-ACC selection, Wiggins recorded 50 tackles (3.0 for loss), 24 pass breakups, three interceptions (including two returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, a sack and a blocked field goal over 34 games (18 starts) in his career at Clemson from 2021-23.

You can check out more from Wiggins on The Lounge Podcast below:

–Photo courtesy of Peter Casey-Imagn Images