How the NFL values and evaluates players like Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins is going to be fascinating to follow.
Wiggins is long and exceptionally athletic, which the NFL typically loves. However, he’s also very thin and doesn’t bring much to the table when defending the run which flies in the face of the Old School. The NFL is very much a passing league and cornerbacks with rare athletic traits are almost always drafted highly to combat the passing attack.
But could Wiggins’ frame work against him on draft day? Teams could certainly drop him down draft boards due to his weight — particularly after seeing him suffer a groin injury running the 40.
Could he possibly drop far enough that the New York Giants might be able to select him to compliment Deonte Banks in their young secondary? That doesn’t seem possible, but crazy things have happened on draft day.
Prospect: Nate Wiggins (2)
Games Watched: vs. Florida State (2023), vs. Our Lady (2023), vs. North Carolina (2023), vs. South Carolina (2023)
Red Flags: Groin (2024)
Measurables
Kent Lee Platte (@mathbomb) | RAS.football
Strengths
- Athleticism
- Man coverage
- Zone coverage
- Disruptiveness
Nate Wiggins is a tall, long cornerback who combines quick light feet, oily hips, and true “track” speed.
He’s an exceptionally athletic cornerback who has the ability to stick with almost any receiver through their route and run down most ball carriers in the open field. Wiggins played on both the left and right sides of the defense, as well as in the slot when necessary. He has a tight, compact backpedal that allows him to get good depth and not have to flip his hips until the last instant. His foot quickness and hip fluidity makes that transition from backpedal to sprint relatively effortless, and Wiggins has great balance when changing direction as well.
Clemson asked Wiggins to play a wide variety of coverage techniques and he usually executed them well.
His athleticism allows him to stick in receivers’ hip pockets in tight man coverage, while his quick feet and burst allow him to play from a distance in off-man and zone coverage. Wiggins has good discipline in off coverage and understands his responsibilities when executing pattern matching rules.
His awareness and explosiveness make him very disruptive at the catch point. Wiggins is capable of slamming catch windows shut from a ways away and has good instincts for playing receivers hands at the catch point. That allowed him to generate turnovers as well as a lot of passes defensed over the last two seasons.
Weaknesses
- Physicality
- Hand discipline
Wiggins is an exceptional athlete, but he’s also built much more like a track star than a typical football player.
He has a tall, whip-thin build that doesn’t carry much mass and has little room to add more at the next level. That limits Wiggins in a couple ways that could become issues at the NFL level. Wiggins can struggle to deliver a firm jam at the line of scrimmage and doesn’t do much to re-route or disrupt receivers at the snap of the ball. Likewise, he lacks the mass and play strength to match up with big, thicker receivers at the catch point.
His slight build can also make it difficult for him to be an effective tackler. He doesn’t have much strength to drive ball carriers back (or to the ground) and he’s also often forced to rely on shoulder checks. Those can be effective thanks to his speed, however missed tackles or glancing blows can lead to yards after contact.
Wiggins also tends to be much more of an observer of run defense than an active participant. He’s willing to be physical and lay hits when he has to do so, but too often he’s watching while his teammates get the runner on the ground. Part of that is due to an inability to get off of blocks from bigger receivers, and part of it is due to him not being a particularly zealous run defender.
Game Tape
Projection
Nate Wiggins projects as a starting cornerback with position and schematic versatility at the NFL level.
Wiggins can shadow receivers around the offensive formation as well as play in both man and zone schemes. He might be best in a defense that primarily uses off-man coverage to limit his exposure to bigger, stronger, or more physical receivers. However, Wiggins should be able to play in any defensive scheme called at the NFL level.
Teams could have concerns regarding Wiggins’ frame and ability to defend the run, and they’re valid concerns. Wiggins’ frame is likely nearly maxed out and he’ll never be a physically imposing defender. That said, the team that drafts him won’t be doing so to add a run defender to their defense. Nate Wiggins will be drafted to be a disruptor in the passing game, and that’s where he’ll make his money.
Does he fit the Giants?
Yes
Final Word: A solid first round value
2024-04-14 18:00:00
#NFL #Draft #prospect #profile #Nate #Wiggins #Clemson
