Former NFL general manager and Executive of the Year winner Rick Spielman believes the 49ers have a need on the perimeter and should look to fill it with their first-round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Spielman specifically suggests that the Niners select Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with the No. 31 overall selection.
“Nate Wiggins is a press-man cornerback who can play zone,” Spielman writes for The 33rd Team. “But, I think he’s best in press. He’s skinny (173 pounds) and needs to add a lot more strength. He’s willing to play in run support, but he’ll need to add strength. This would fill a huge need for the San Francisco 49ers on the outside.”
Wiggins is coming off the most prolific season of his collegiate career, posting 29 total tackles with two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown, while adding one sack, one tackle for loss, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles. The former Tigers playmaker would make a solid addition to the 49ers’ secondary.
Wiggins is the type of player who could step onto the field and immediately push Deommodore Lenoir for a starting outside cornerback job.
“Wiggins does a very good job of using his length in coverage,” The Bleacher Report Scouting Department writes. “When in press, he uses his hands well to control and redirect receivers off the line of scrimmage. He’s able to seamlessly open and run thanks to his fluid hips, and he has the ability to quickly sink his hips and transition out of breaks. He can be a bit lazy at times with his pad level, causing him to round breaks or be slower to drive on the ball, but when done correctly, he has the footwork to burst out of breaks and drive on receivers.
“When working down the field, he has the speed to run with receivers, although he is inconsistent with his positioning. He does have top-notch recovery speed to get back into phase. Wiggins often relies on face-guarding downfield and playing through the hands of receivers. When the ball is in front of him, he has the ball skills and timing to break up passes.”
According to PFF, opposing quarterbacks posted a paltry 44.4 passer rating when targeting Wiggins, who finished 2023 with an elite 83.9 coverage grade from the outlet. If Wiggins is on the board at the end of the first round, he could be a name to watch for the 49ers.
