Nate Wiggins has immense talent and doesn't mind setting lofty goals.
Coming off a strong rookie season in 2024, the first-round cornerback from Clemson was asked about his aspirations for 2025 on "The Lounge" podcast.
"[I want to] get 10+ turnovers," Wiggins said. "No matter – interceptions, forced fumbles.
"I feel I dropped like five, six picks last year. I feel like I owe the team some picks. This year it's all about catching the ball, looking it through."
By the end of last season, Wiggins had become one of the team's most consistent defensive players, eager to match up against the opposition's top target. The slender 6-foot-1 corner has added around 10 pounds since the end of last season, which should help him play with more physicality without losing any of his 4.28 speed.
"Since last season to know I gained 10 pounds," Wiggins said. "This year, it's going to be like more power, more strength. I'm still training to gain more pounds. I'm not a big fan of eating… [but] I'm forcing myself to eat."
People forget how young Wiggins is – he won't turn 22 years old until Aug. 28. But as a rookie, he quickly showed his potential to become one of the league's top corners. His highlights included a forced fumble against CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys, back-to-back end-zone pass breakups against Malik Nabers of the New York Giants, and a pick-six against the Cleveland Browns in the regular season finale.
After steadily improving in 2025, Wiggins is determined to carry that momentum into 2025.
"Week 6, Week 7, that's when it really clicked in my head," Wiggins said. "OK, I can guard each receiver in the league. I was getting confident. Each week I was playing better. Getting the concepts. Getting the plays down. How they run routes. Everything physically, I can do it."
Wiggins was the 30th overall pick in 2024, with only two corners selected ahead of him – Quinyon Mitchell of the Philadelphia Eagles (20th) and Terrion Arnold of the Detroit Lions (22nd). Though he's happy to be in Baltimore, Wiggins still believes he's the best cornerback in his draft class and wants to prove that to anyone who disagrees.
"A lot of teams doubted me, saying I wasn't ready," Wiggins said. "Too small. It's definitely still going to be a chip on my shoulder."
Having the swag and skillset it takes to play cornerback in the NFL isn't for everyone but seems to fit Wiggins perfectly. Coaches and teammates believe Wiggins has just scratched the surface of his talent.
"I thought Nate did a great job going to work this offseason, putting weight on," Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr said Thursday. "That's a testament to him and the strength coaches coming up with a great plan. Obviously, he followed it.
"He's more locked in on his fundamentals and technique on a more consistent basis. He got to that point towards the middle end of the season, but last year, he was just running like a chicken with his head cut off, trying to figure out what to do. Now, he understands the system. He understands the defense. He's been in the league for a year, so he understands formations from offenses. Man, that guy right there, if he takes his technique to another level on a consistent basis, the sky is the limit for him."
