The NFL Draft will begin on April 25, 2024. We take a look at Nate Wiggins, one of the headlining cornerbacks in the draft.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Draft scouting reports.
Coming out of high school, Nate Wiggins was a four-star recruit. After committing to Clemson, he made his presence known early, playing 13 games in his sophomore year and 27 games over the span of his whole collegiate career. Wiggins’ stellar play in 2023 earned him First-Team All-ACC honors.
Nate Wiggins, CB, Clemson
Name: Nate Wiggins
Jersey: No. 2
Position: Cornerback
School: Clemson
Class: Junior
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 185 lbs.
Nate Wiggins with nice reactions. Reacts to the break instantly, covers the ground between him and the WR fast and picks off Drake Maye#NFL #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/X2LHPNy5xO
— Breaking Fantasy Football (@Breaking_FF) January 29, 2024
Nate Wiggins’ Strengths
Wiggins’ best trait is his ball skills. When the ball is in the air, he does a tremendous job turning his head, tracking it, and making a play on it. With imposing size and length, he is able to dominate at the point of attack.
Furthermore, Wiggins has exceptional instincts. He’s capable of recognizing the route break instantly and making a play on it. It helps that he has elite closing speed, being able to go from zero to 60 in the blink of an eye. This speed also translates to when he’s beaten and needs to recover or needs to run deep with a receiver.
Athletically, he’s the entire package. He’s a fluid mover with fluid hips and can mirror anyone. His footwork is clean and he can transition from a backpedal to cut cleanly. He can change directions without losing any speed or stop on a dime.
Nate Wiggins’ Weaknesses
The athleticism Wiggins possesses comes at the expense of his play strength. He’s only 185 pounds and lacks a physical element to his game. When getting hands on a player, he can’t force them to reroute or move them in any way. He doesn’t have the violence in his punches, even if perfectly placed. That lack of physicality is also a disadvantage in the run game. He struggles to get off blockers and is a lousy tackler.
In coverage, Wiggins isn’t perfect, either. He’s overaggressive on routes, leaving him prone to fall for fakes such as double moves. This especially shows in press coverage when receivers are doing whatever they can to get Wiggins to make a false move. He tends to overcommit to the receiver’s first move, gaining a disadvantage.
Pro Comparison: Darius Slay
Slay and Wiggins have numerous similarities. They have similar frames, separated by two inches and five pounds. Like Slay, Wiggins is an instinctive corner with impressive skills when playing off-man. When the ball is in the air, they both dominate at the point of attack.
Draft Projection: Mid First Round
Wiggins should be drafted between pick Nos. 14 to 20. Teams like the Jaguars and Rams would be great fits for Wiggins given their existing voids at cornerback.
Main Image Credit:
