Ravens sign first-round draft pick Nate Wiggins, rookie contract details revealed

The Baltimore Ravens have officially signed first-round pick Nate Wiggins, inking the former Clemson star to a four-year deal. The rookie will receive a $6.143 million signing bonus on the $12.819 million fully guaranteed deal, according to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson.

Wiggins, a cornerback selected No. 30 overall in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, will have a salary of $795,000 in 2024. His salary will go up to $1.377 million in 2025, $1.96 million in 2026 and $2.543 million in 2027. As a first-round pick, Wiggins’ contract comes with a fifth-year option for the Ravens that could keep him in Baltimore through the 2028 season.

The Ravens announced the news of the signing with a photo of Wiggins on social media. The caption for the post: “Heart just turned purple.”

heart just turned purple 💜 pic.twitter.com/GfsXSC2w4Q

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) May 6, 2024

When the Ravens called Wiggins to tell him they were taking him with the No. 30 overall pick, the former Tigers defender told them they made the right choice.

“I swear to God, y’all got the best one,” he said. “I swear to God, coach. I’m the best CB. I swear. I’m not going to let you down, coach.”

Ravens ink first-round pick Nate Wiggins

Wiggins spent the past three seasons at Clemson. During that time, he appeared in 34 games, including 18 starts the past two seasons. In total, he posted 60 tackles, 19 deflections, a trio of interceptions for a pair of pick-sixes, two forced fumbles, and a sack.

The 6-foot-2 corner finished Clemson’s 2023 regular season recording 29 total tackles, 23 solo, six passes defended, and forced two fumbles. He also had two interceptions, with one of them returned for a touchdown.

That production earned Wiggins the honor of being an All-ACC Selection, including a First Team recognition in 2023.

The Athletics‘ Mike Sando spoke to NFL exec under the stipulation of anonymity this week to find out what the bigwigs are saying about the Ravens’ draft picks.

“Nate Wiggins was the best cover corner in the draft,” an exec said. “He falls a little because he did not compete as consistently as you’d like, but going into that Baltimore culture, they have to feel good. They are not a team you really question.”

Wiggins played high school football at Westlake. He was a four-star prospect and the No. 119 overall recruit in the 2021 cycle. That’s according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also rated as the No. 8 CB in the class and the No. 13 player out of Georgia.