Rookie Nate Wiggins 'Has Caught Everybody's Attention' at Training Camp
The Ravens have an abundance of established stars, but one newcomer turning heads at training camp is first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins, who at 20 years old is the youngest player on the roster.
NFL Network’s Sam Wyche attended training camp yesterday, and one of his biggest takeaways was that "Wiggins was just showcasing himself."
"I've spoken to several people out here who said he's been one of the most impressive people at training camp," Wyche said. "He is a tall, very long corner, but the closing speed, and the overall speed he has, has caught everybody's attention. Not only how he can cover, but the way he closes space if a receiver, whether a short route or a deep route, gets behind him. Very impressive, highly competitive."
The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec also likes what he's seen from Wiggins.
"Wiggins has played aggressively, whether that's getting his hands on a receiver or trying to knock the football away from the ball carrier," Zrebiec wrote. "He's been fiercely competitive and not shy about talking to the wideouts. … And he can run. In a practice last week, Wiggins sprinted across the field to touch down Nelson Agholor short of the end zone. His GPS reading on the play was the highest the Ravens have ever recorded. All in all, Wiggins has been as advertised."
Wiggins is a member of a loaded secondary that includes cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, and Arthur Maulet, and safeties Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, and Eddie Jackson.
What Wiggins' role will be is to be determined, but clearly the potential is there for him to make an immediate impact.
Scott Pioli Says Ravens Have Done 'Remarkable Job' in Consistently Developing Players
It's been well-documented that the Ravens lost several key players on both sides of the ball this offseason, but NFL Network analyst and former NFL executive Scott Pioli remains high on the team because of its strong track record of player development.
"Will things be different? Heck yeah, they're going to be different," Pioli said on “Glenn Clark Radio” last week. "Generally, when you're a good program, you have attrition, and you have a plan in place. Part of the Ravens' culture is that they've always had a plan in place. They're never surprised by someone talented leaving."
Pioli, who was the Ravens' pro personnel coordinator in 1996 after spending three years in the organization when it was in Cleveland, said cohesiveness has long been a staple of the franchise.
"This is why I admire this organization so much," Pioli said. "There's been this cohesiveness. They believe in player development. They bring in talent, and even if that talent was found in the seventh round, or maybe it's [defensive end] Tavius Robinson in the fourth round, they have been in this system, they're going to continue to grow.
"Sometimes your best talent is homegrown talent. When you look at the years, the way they have drafted, the way that they have acquired free agents, and some low-priced free agents, and developed them within their system, they've done a remarkable job. … They're going to be all right because they have a system in place that both coaching and personnel believe in and they're cohesive."
Pundit Gives Ravens C-Minus Offseason Grade
Like Pioli, Yahoo! Sports’ Frank Schwab lauded the Ravens for their player development, but that didn't stop him from giving them an offseason grade of C-minus.
"No team has been better at moving on from high-priced free agents and finding capable replacements from in-house. They'll be tested again," Schwab wrote. "Linebacker Patrick Queen, edge defender Jadeveon Clowney, safety Geno Stone, guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler, offensive tackle Morgan Moses (who was traded to the Jets) and running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins departed. The only free agent addition who got more than $1.8 million per year was running back Derrick Henry.
"The Ravens lost a lot and that's reflected in the grade. Baltimore's history of developing replacements gives them a benefit of the doubt, however."
One would think giving the benefit of the doubt would result in a higher grade than C-minus, but OK.
Who Are the Risers From Week 1 of Training Camp?
The Baltimore Banner's Jonas Shaffer identified the risers and fallers for the Ravens after the first week of training camp. Here's what he had to say about some of the risers:
CB Marlon Humphrey
"The four interceptions speak for themselves, don't they? Humphrey opened camp looking like one of the Ravens' best players and ended the first week looking the same way, picking off two passes from Lamar Jackson on Saturday. Some of Humphrey's takeaways came from being in the right place at the right time — good luck has a lot to do with a lot of takeaways — but the alternative isn't any better. He had just one interception and didn't force a fumble last year. After coming into camp at about 190 pounds, 10 pounds lighter than normal, Humphrey has been impressive against downfield routes. He ran step for step with speedy rookie Devontez Walker on a deep shot Saturday."
G Andrew Vorhees and G Sala Aumavae-Laulu
"It's hard for guards to stand out in camp. Most of the attention they get is unwanted, earned with a penalty here or a whiffed block there. Good thing, then, that Vorhees and Aumavae-Laulu had largely anonymous opening weeks in camp. The 2023 draft picks have yet to play a snap for the Ravens — Vorhees' rehabilitation from a torn ACL sidelined him for his rookie season, while Aumavae-Laulu was a healthy scratch — but they returned for their second camp in Baltimore with more NFL-ready bodies. Vorhees has the inside track to win the starting left guard job. Aumavae-Laulu, who struggled mightily in the preseason last year, is in the mix at right guard."
DL Travis Jones
"Fellow defensive lineman Michael Pierce said Saturday that Andrew Vorhees is 'going to be really good,' so it's a good sign that Jones has already knocked back the hulking left guard a few times with his bull rush. Jones is one of the Ravens' strongest players, and his play strength becomes more and more harnessed with every passing offseason. Jones' growth from Year 1 to Year 2 in Baltimore was impressive — he had 36 tackles (four for a loss) and 1.5 sacks in 17 games last season — and his leap from Year 2 to Year 3 could be just as significant. 'He's been making a lot of plays,' Pierce said. 'I don't mind splitting reps with him. … I believe he will have an amazing year this year, for sure.'"
Ravens Signing Henry Ranked As One of Best Offseason Acquisitions
The Ravens may not have made a lot of additions this offseason, but they did make one of the biggest.
Baltimore signing Henry was No. 12 in ESPN's Mike Clay's rankings of the top 50 offseason acquisitions.
"Running backs might not be valued by teams as much as they were in the past, but the Ravens didn't sign Henry for him to chill on the sidelines," Clay wrote. "Despite playing in a committee alongside Tyjae Spears in Tennessee last season, Henry managed to lead the NFL in carries (280) for the fourth time in five seasons. The 30-year-old has a good chance at his seventh consecutive season with double-digit touchdowns."
