NFL Mock Draft: Eagles Address ‘Secondary Woes’ With Clemson DB Nate Wiggins
The Philadelphia Eagles have a lot of work to do looking to recapture the magic that led to a Super Bowl appearance in 2022 but devolved into a letdown Wild Card exit one year later.
While the Eagles set out to find their next defensive coordinator it’s not just coaching that needs to be better in 2024.
To return to the top of the NFC, Philadelphia will need talent improvements across the board, and this time it'll likely need to look outside of the Georgia Bulldogs program to get it.
Clemson Tigers cornerback Nate Wiggins (2) smiles after breaking up a pass to South Carolina wide receiver Nyck Harbor (8) during the fourth quarter at Williams-Brice Stadium. Clemson won 16-7.
Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports
For example, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman could turn to the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the NFL Draft, just as Bucky Brooks of NFL.com has him doing in his first mock.
“The Eagles’ secondary woes will force GM Howie Roseman to address the situation in the draft,” says Brooks who projects cornerback Nate Wiggins to Philadelphia at pick No. 22. “Wiggins is an athletic freak with the tools to flourish early in his career.”
Wiggins is a 6-2 junior who spent all three years with the Tigers before entering the NFL Draft this year.
He played 27 games total and secured three interceptions to go with 49 tackles in his career.
Wiggins notched one sack this season, the only one of his career, and defended 21 passes in the three years of play.
According to Pro Football Focus, Wiggins surrendered just three touchdowns during his collegiate career and earned grades of 77.9 in 2022 and 81.6 this past season.
The Eagles defense ranked 16th in the NFL in passing yards per game allowed while also sitting near the bottom of the league in interception percentages.
Addressing that need is important, and will certainly be a priority just as soon as Philadelphia figures out who will call plays on that side of the ball.
