OWINGS MILLS — Ravens rookie cornerback Nate Wiggins has earned a nickname from fellow defensive back Marlon Humphrey: “Nasty Nate.”
Wiggins is not sure that the moniker will stick.
“I guess I play nasty defense,” Wiggins said. “That’s his nickname for me. He wanted me to tell you all that’s my nickname. I am not … It’s not official for me yet, I don’t know. It might [become] official. We don’t know yet.”
Wiggins has acclimating to the speed and physicality of the NFL. On the second day of training camp, he made his first interception when he jumped a route on a pass by quarterback Josh Johnson.
Wiggins has put himself in a position to be part of a talented group of cornerbacks that includes Humphrey, a former first-team All-Pro; the emerging Brandon Stephens; and Arther Maulet, who made three interceptions in the first three days of training camp.
Wiggins is confident that playing with such a talented group is going to improve his game.
“I feel like that’s going to help me a lot,” he said. “Like you said, I could just go to anybody in the DB [defensive backs] room, asking them questions. I feel like that is going to help me in the long run.”
The Ravens selected Wiggins with the 30th pick in the 2024 NFL draft. It was the first cornerback the team selected in the first round since Humphrey was the 16th overall pick in 2017.
Wiggins is a lockdown defensive back who allowed just one completion of 20-plus yards last season at Clemson. He ran a 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, so he has the speed to keep up with NFL wide receivers.
Last season, the Ravens ranked second in the NFL with 18 interceptions. Wiggins could help them remain high on that list.
“I just know they are ballhawks and they get a lot of turnovers,” Wiggins said. “I know this past season, they were the top defense, so I know my place [and] my competitiveness will fit [in] right along with the great defense.”
So far, he has endeared himself to his new teammates with a possible new nickname.
“I’ll take it as a compliment, yes – definitely from Marlon,” he said about being called “Nasty Nate.”