Player
Nate Wiggins
CB · Ravens
Tackle-per-game is a proxy for how much defensive coordinators trust a CB to fit the run and take on blocking — jumping from 1.6 to 3.4 signals a wholesale role expansion, not just a volume bump.
Largest tackle-per-game leap in the 2024 CB class: 1.6 → 3.4 per game, year 1 to year 2.
TrendWiggins vs 2024 first-round CB classmates — tackles per game, reg season
| Player | Yr1 Tpg | Yr2 Tpg | Delta |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Wiggins | 1.60 | 3.35 | +1.75 |
| Cole Bishop | 1.64 | 3.25 | +1.61 |
| Quinyon Mitchell | 2.25 | 2.19 | -0.06 |
| Terrion Arnold | 2.69 | 2.88 | +0.19 |
The 30th overall pick in the 2024 draft played 15 regular-season games as a rookie (24 solo tackles, 13 PDs). In 2025 he played all 17 — and his tackle rate more than doubled: 57 solo tackles in 17 games (3.35 per game), up from 1.60 per game in year 1.
Among all 2024 draft class cornerbacks with at least 8 games in each season, no one posted a larger year-over-year tackle-per-game jump. Mitchell, the other 2024 first-round CB, actually regressed slightly (2.25 → 2.19 per game). Wiggins's run-support emergence — not just PD volume — is what the year-2 leap looks like.
Why it matters. Tackle-per-game is a proxy for how much defensive coordinators trust a CB to fit the run and take on blocking — jumping from 1.6 to 3.4 signals a wholesale role expansion, not just a volume bump.
27 career PDs in 32 regular-season games — 6th most among first-round CBs drafted 2015–2023 through the same window.
MilestoneMost PDs by a 1st-round CB in first 2 reg-season seasons (2015–2023 draft, min 20 games)
| Player | Draft Yr | G | PDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcus Peters | 2015 | 31 | 46 |
| Sauce Gardner | 2022 | 33 | 32 |
| Jalen Ramsey | 2016 | 32 | 31 |
| Marshon Lattimore | 2017 | 29 | 30 |
| Jaire Alexander | 2018 | 29 | 28 |
| Adoree' Jackson | 2017 | 32 | 27 |
| Nate Wiggins | 2024 | 32 | 27 |
Through 32 regular-season games, Wiggins has 27 pass defenses — a pace of 0.84 PDs per game. Among all first-round CBs drafted between 2015 and 2023 (minimum 20 regular-season games in their first two seasons), only five players produced more PDs through the same 2-season window: Marcus Peters, Sauce Gardner, Jalen Ramsey, Marshon Lattimore, and Jaire Alexander.
Wiggins ties Adoree' Jackson for 6th — ahead of Marlon Humphrey, Tre'Davious White, Devon Witherspoon, and Pat Surtain II. The Ravens handed him the #1 CB role immediately, and the volume reflects that.
Why it matters. PD totals are the primary output stat for a boundary corner; ranking 6th all-time among modern first-round CBs through 32 games places Wiggins in a legitimately elite peer group.
1.5 PDs per divisional game in 2025 — triple his rate against non-AFC-North opponents.
SplitWiggins 2025 splits — divisional vs non-divisional (reg season)
| Opponent type | G | Tackles | PDs | PDs/G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AFC North (CLE/CIN/PIT) | 6 | 17 | 9 | 1.50 |
| Non-divisional | 11 | 40 | 5 | 0.45 |
In 2025, Wiggins played 6 divisional games (two each vs Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh) and 11 non-divisional games. The contrast is stark: 9 PDs in 6 divisional games (1.50/gm) vs 5 PDs in 11 non-divisional games (0.45/gm).
His divisional tackle volume was also proportionally higher — 17 in 6 games (2.83/gm) vs 40 in 11 games (3.64/gm), suggesting non-division games leaned run-heavy while division games lit up his coverage reps. For context, his 2025 divisional-game PD rate (1.50) would pace to 27 PDs over a full 18-game schedule — nearly double his actual season total.
Why it matters. Divisional edge matters for playoff seeding and the toughest recurring matchups; a CB who elevates against division rivals rather than fading is a genuine difference-maker in the AFC North.
Rookie PDs (13) led all 2024 first-round CBs — despite playing 2 fewer games than Mitchell and Arnold.
Rare2024 draft class 1st-round CBs — rookie regular-season PDs
| Player | Pick | G | PDs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Wiggins | 30 | 15 | 13 |
| Quinyon Mitchell | 22 | 16 | 12 |
| Terrion Arnold | 24 | 16 | 10 |
Among the three cornerbacks taken in the first round of the 2024 draft, Wiggins's 13 rookie pass defenses led the group — despite playing 15 regular-season games to Mitchell's 16 and Arnold's 16. On a per-game basis the gap widens: 0.87 PDs/game (Wiggins) vs 0.75 (Mitchell) vs 0.63 (Arnold).
The Ravens' aggressive man-coverage scheme handed him a ton of contested-throw reps immediately, and he passed the test. Note: Mike Sainristil (2nd round, pick 50) led the entire 2024 draft class CBs with 14 PDs — Wiggins led the first-round tier specifically.
Why it matters. Leading your 1st-round CB peers in a contested coverage stat in your rookie year validates both the pick and the decision to start immediately — especially when playing fewer games than your direct class comparators.
57 solo tackles + 14 PDs in 2025 — the highest solo-tackle total among all first-round 2024 class CBs, leading Quinyon Mitchell by 22.
Anomaly2024 1st-round CB year-2 production (2025 regular season)
| Player | Pick | G | Solo Tkl | PDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nate Wiggins | 30 | 17 | 57 | 14 |
| Quinyon Mitchell | 22 | 16 | 35 | 17 |
| Terrion Arnold | 24 | 8 | 23 | 8 |
Among the three first-round CBs from the 2024 draft, Wiggins led in solo tackles in year 2 by a wide margin — 57 solos vs Mitchell's 35 (a 63% difference) — while finishing just 3 PDs behind Mitchell (14 vs 17) in one extra game.
For a boundary corner, 57 solo tackles in 17 games is a run-support workload you'd expect from a linebacker, not an outside corner. It reflects the Ravens' willingness to use Wiggins as a multi-phase player — run fits, blitz packages, and coverage — rather than parking him on an island and hoping QBs avoid him. The 57-tackle, 14-PD combo in a single season is an unusual double that signals a complete CB profile.
Why it matters. High tackle counts from boundary CBs suggest aggressive scheme deployment and willingness to take on blocks — exactly the multi-use profile that supports a lucrative second contract.
2 TFLs as a CB in year 2 — run-support flashes that didn't exist as a rookie.
ComparisonWiggins went 0 TFLs → 2 TFLs between his rookie and sophomore years. TFLs from boundary corners are uncommon — they require either a quick screen read or an outside-run fit where the corner is the unblocked force defender.
Combined with the tackle volume doubling (24 → 57 solo tackles), the 2025 line tells you the Ravens started using Wiggins as a hybrid alignment player, not just a single-coverage island. That role expansion is what separates a top-30 pick from a corner in line for a top-10 contract.
Why it matters. TFLs from cornerbacks require scheme trust — the DC has to put the CB in a position to make the play, signaling Wiggins has earned a larger run-defense role in year 2.
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