Press Pass: Ravens NFL Draft Day 1

Welcome into the Ravens Press Pass Podcast. The first round of the NFL drafts is complete and with their first round pick, the Ravens selected cornerback Nate Wiggins out of Clemson. The Ravens took Wiggins at pick number thirty and they were fired up about this edition. Wiggins gives them a talented, up and coming cornerback who Eric Tacosta said was the best cover cornerback in this draft class. After the first round was complete, we heard from GM Eric Tacosta and head coach John Harbaugh.

Well, guys, thanks for coming in. We're very, very excited to draft Nate Wiggins, one of the in my opinion, the best cover corner in the draft. Highly athletic, fantastic feat really, in our opinion, a guy that can grow into being a true shutdown type corner. Ecstatic that he fell to us, And we'll take questions, got.

Erdy, you actually had a lot of that corner.

Was there a compensation or was it we cut under reward that we didn't do there?

Well, we had a couple guys that we really liked. We were hopeful, so hopeful we figured that like this draft, honestly, we had to come out of the first round with most likely a corner or an offensive lineman if we could, and uh, you know you always hold your breath for sure. Uh Honestly, I didn't think that Nate would be there for us. You know, as the draft started to unfold and we started to see all those offensive linemen come off the board, we thought there might be a chance.

The offensive players went I think thirteen.

Or run not really.

We kind of looked at it and it was an offensive draft. I mean, there's more offensive players in this draft. It's just stacked on the offensive side this year at some positions. I mean, we knew the quarterbacks we're gonna be picked high, and we had a strong inclination that offensive line we're gonna go to. So if you take the seven offensive linemen in the six quarterbacks, there's thirteen players right there. So you know, we weren't surprised.

I don't think Johan.

Wishing idea about playing maybe feel like he's a day one, plug and play type of guy.

Do you see him inside or outside? How do you envision use it?

Yeah?

I mean I think you see him as an outside corner. That's kind of where he's made his say, but he plays inside as well, and he did it in college. I think we'll just continue to be versatile. Do those dbs moving around and playing different spots. It gives us another quality starting corner. I'd say we've got three, you know, legitimate starting corners. He's got to come and improve it and do it and all that, but we expect him to do it. We were excited, we were we were looking,

Did you bring him in here? Was he in a pre draft process?

He was? He was.

He's I mean he's he's very slender.

I mean, how does he project and sort of the run defense or things.

For what he does?

Yeah, we watch the tape. He comes up and smacks people. That's what he does. He's not afraid of the physical part of it at all. You know, he's he's pretty. He's a complete corner.

You know.

First of all, he's ranging, he can run, he's got very good fee. He changed his direction. He puts his hands on people in press and he runs up and tackles people with some physicality. So, uh, the weight doesn't doesn't imped him at all. And he's gonna put on a way. I think he's over one hundred and eighty now, so he's a young guy. He's he's twenty years old right there.

Yeah, he'll you know, he'll he'll he'll gain weight.

I mean, if we get up there, with some of the scouts. You know, he'll pack it up pretty quick. George, getting with Manny, getting with Manny in the kitchen. You know, we we we got a we got a plan for him.

You mentioned, uh, obviously his cover instincts.

And John's you're saying he's a big corner.

How much did the big plays kind of factor into your desire to draft Nate? I mean obviously, well right at the goal.

Line where he's going down. I mean, do you feel like there's something about.

The big plays that Nate had in college that defines him as a player.

Well, when I think of Nate, I just think that he's he's a ridiculous athlete, very very quick footed, efficient, He's fast, he's tough, he's competitive. You know, in our vision, we play a lot of really good receivers and you've got to get off the field and their downs and uh, we were blessed last year to have a lot of depth in the secondary and it and it really helped us quite a bit. And this is a guy that can come in here and play meaningful football right away

John, you touched on the versatility a little bit, but being able to add Wagan's playing on the outside. How big is that in terms maybe move Marlin around. Just being as versatile as you guys were last year with some of the depth you.

That no question.

I mean, Marlin's gonna be able to slide in there and play inside. Brandon can slide in and play inside. You got Kyle coming down, you got Kyle going and playing the diningbacker. Possibly, Uh, we we can do. We're just gonna have a lot of options. I mean, Zach's gonna be He's gonna be working on that versatility pretty probably tonight.

Arthur had a heck of a season last year. Yeah.

I know, you guys trusting your process and you don't really do the whole comparison thing. But I know you guys were high on Manuel Fores last year, and this is another kind of skinny fast guy does his struggles to kind of look at your factory in any way to how do you think about what I might work over from College city NFL level.

I think, you know, it's a good question, Jonas. I think we just we look at everybody differently. You know, we just kind of study the player for who he is and what he does and what he puts on tape. Look at his skill set. We talk to people, which is a very important part of the process. We follow the guy around and I think at that position, it's a very hard position to play. You know, a lot of guys can't do it. The biggest thing is, and John always says that you've got to actually cover people.

We love that about him.

He's twenty years old, one.

Of the fastest players at the combine, silky smooth, and he will compete. He does tackle very well. People at the school are high on him. We were getting texts from the head coach. Dabbo was texting us during the first round, please take this guy. So we're just very excited about him.

He was kind of.

Again, more about team than But do you remember your reaction with a man that.

Fort I mean it was, yeah, I was, I was excited. I mean I wasn't as fast as Worthy. My reaction went Worthy Ram, but you know, you know, I mean he've read at four two eight, I think so yeah, I mean it's a great workout. He didn't do much after that. But to see that speed, you know, uh, super impressive. We had him in here, we met with him, we met with him at the combine, spent a lot of time with him, and uh, we're very excited to get him.

You mentioned that the pre.

Draft uh news conference and depth, especially in the offensive line and wide receiver.

Did did you see him or did you feel.

A bigger sense of urgency to identify quarterback and attack up position early.

Yeah, that's that's an excellent question, and that's something that you know, honestly kept me up at night, just because there are a lot offensive linemen in this draft. There are you know, a pretty good pool of receivers. But as I would go through and work on all these different you know, simulations, it became apparent that if we didn't get a corner in the first round, it was going to be challenging to get a really good corner in the second round, third round, four round who could

Do you think there would have been a lot of options to trade down, or at least some options to trade down.

We had a lot of options.

I had the phone rang a lot this year, and more so than it has in the last couple of years, and we honestly, I can honestly say that.

We've probably had.

Eight different potential trades that we could have investigated.

Back and forward or just that well we didn't.

We know, we're not really a forward team, you know. So all one team did call us about coming up, we just were kind of like, oh, thank you, but that's not really something that we do, you know, Like, so yeah, it was trading back.

You guys have done a really good job at taking some of these young players twenty one.

Twenty in the drafts.

I guess how him does that kind of you factor into your evaluation of them? And why do you think you guys have done so well getting you know, as Queen Mark, guys who are not quite basically mature but having development really good players.

That's a great question.

I think Eric said it earlier.

It's kind of probably more about the individual player, but you get the right kind of guy. He's coming out for a reason. He's a first round pick for a reason. He's very talented, he's ready, thinks he's ready. I know his head coach felt like he was ready coming out. And you know, he's a young guy. But that's opportunity. I think the way we look at it, and he's determined. I mean, he's a motivated guy. He's talking about he's

You know.

And I think, uh, he's he's planning on being a hard worker, and uh, if he does that, you know we've got we've got a path for him. You know, we kind of got a plan for him and we'll have him ready to go.

Eric, as you look at that to day too, do you still see a lot of offensive Lemon who couldn't build.

Me right away?

I did?

Yeah, York and you're seeing that you're not much of a move forward.

Type team, but you know, a couple.

Of trades eating that in those pen picts right in front of you as you as you're sort of holding a button on maybe some other guys you like, was there any temptation to kind of move up as there was as you're saying, a lot of people stilling during I'm sure throughout the league, was there a temptation to do something dramatic as you were just waiting and seeing how.

It would chick out?

Yeah, I'm just not really a trade up type of guy generally. I mean, it hasn't. I mean, we we we have. I mean we traded up, traded up to get Lamar, we traded up to get Joe. But in most cases, I just feel that your chance is to really maximize your draft or to stay where you are and or or or go back and so you know a lot of research.

You traded back.

Yeah, well we traded back and then we traded up.

Was that how it went up?

Then back back, then.

Up, back then up, which, which, for the record, who's on first? I was not necessarily in favor of that trade back up. However, I was out voted.

That's right, I do.

Yeah, I was getting you not voted by voting by two. Well two people were staring at me. But it's fine.

It's good. You know it's good. It's good.

It worked out. So I mean, I'm not saying it can't work out. You can trade up to get guys.

It was only seventeen years ago.

You could be very successful doing it. But in general, I think it's just a risky business.

What was altimately the.

Reason plays in the city.

A good player and.

Process well name Derek Yam credit. Derek works for me upstairs and analytics. He does a great job with modeling and different things, and he was convinced that we would get a player in our range of between thirteen to twenty. In our sequence, we're picking thirty.

I didn't think it was going to happen this year, but he was right.

And so when you get a player that you have highly rated, who you love, who fills the position in need, then you got to take them.

Well.

Also had a chance to hear from Nate himself. He was celebrating the news with his friends and family, and we had a chance to hear from him on a zoom call with the local media.

Hey, Nick, congratulations. Did you with your interactions with the Ravens and when they came up with number you know, thirty, what was kind of your feelings? Do you think there was a really good chance that you were gonna go to the Ravens?

Yes, sir, they always told me like if I was there, if I was available, they won't take me.

So it was just what will I be available?

All right, We'll go to Garrett Downey.

And they congratulations. How would you just kind of describe the emotions of this night.

I mean, there was a lot of emotions going on to it, just thinking I was gonna go to early Dain Foster thirty.

I mean just I mean, it was a lot of emotions.

But I'm happy to be here, man, I'm happy to be in Baltimore, So I mean, I can't be more happy.

Cliff Brown, right.

If I think you're mured, sorry about that, Nate Cliff Brown, Baltimore Ravens media coach. Harball was just talking about on tape how he would come up and smack people on film and people talk about you know, your your size, being a slender guy. Just talk about your confidence about how you'll be able to you know handle tackling guys and playing defense at this level.

I just feel like it's just was the weight thing.

So when I get my nutrition, I don't feel like it's gonna be a big problem.

So I feel like it's gonna uh, it's just take time.

I mean I'm twenty years old, so I ain't really already stretched out yet, so I know when I when I get somebody gonna be scared.

So we'll go Child's Walker and then Gianahan, congratulations.

You know er Eric Taicassa told us that he felt like you're the best cover corner in the draft. What is it about your your mindset and your physical tools do you think that that makes you so comfortable on the outside like that?

Just my speed and my instinct uh, and my my physicality has just been on that island.

It's uh. I mean.

This man, man, no man, I feel like I'm the best man on man corner on the best corner in the dress.

So I mean, yeah, it taste speed boys.

Gianna, congrats.

Just curious, what do you know about the Ravens defense or style play and how do you feel like your own brand of play fits in with the Ravens.

I just know they have bog and they get a lot of turnovers, and I know that. And in the past season there was the top top defense. So I know my place, my place, my competitis in my fiure right.

Right along with the great defense.

Brian Whacker.

Any congratulations, Just curious. Two things sounded like Dabbo was texting with the Ravens all night about telling them to pick you where you were that or what do you think of that? And secondly, what was what do you remember about your visit here on your Top thirty visit and when what kind of stood out to you.

I really didn't know about the devil takes and pas the Ravens situation, so I don't know about that. But the vision, the vision went well, it was a good visit. I feel like I was home. I mean they invited me in so well, so flight was home. So I know when I go back up there, it's gonna feel like it's gonna feel like home again.

Grita Parks And then Ryan mink.

Hey, Nate, congratulations. You talked about the emotions of this night and this is really not only a life changing night for you but also your entire family. Can you just reflect on what this means to you from that standpoint, Uh, I.

Know, just come coming wrong, come from a lot of folks don't make it. So, I mean there's a lot of motion going on in building right now. I'm just glad to be here, so that's all.

Ryan Nate, congratulations. Wonder if you when when were you the fastest guy on the field and do you have any good stories about your speed?

I always been the fastest guy on the field.

I mean I don't really always been fast, so I really I don't really have a question about speed.

But uh yeah, we'll go Kyle Goon and then jeff'suriback.

Hey Nate, congratulations. Just wondering what was your reaction when you see, you know, thirteen offensive players come off the the board initially and then you know, what, what is it like kind of realizing that you might be going towards the end of first round to a really a team that's already been competitive and good.

I mean, it was, like I said, it was emotional. It was just thinking I'm going earlier. But I mean, the best player that got had playing for me. So we're here now, so I can't I can't wait to make the best of it.

Jeff and then Kevin richardson two part question date, how much do you think the.

Ravens defensive attitude kind of fits your playing style? And have you gotten a chance to talk to Treton Simpson and and do you think he's a guy that can kind of help you along here as you make the transition in the NFL.

I feel like I feel in perfect with the Ravens defense is just like like I said before, the competitiveness and just their mindset.

They want to go get the ball and they want to win.

So that's all That's what I started on doing I for That's what I feel like I'm the best hit for for his team.

Uh Trich simply we talked. We just talked like out of that when I was on a visit.

He was like, I mean, yeah, I feel like he's gonna be a he's gonna be a bit a big role in my part when I get that, because I mean he'll work with you know, you know how to carry yourself, so he'll be a big rolling in my part.

Ken back to Ryan mink Sure, Nick, welcome to Baltimore and being a young guy in college, what led.

You to start a foundation for underprivileged people in the community.

I was just like, uh, just where I'm coming from for real. When I came from, I ain't really have a lot growing up, So I know, like, uh, when I'm going back to there giving back, Now, I really got all of it. I really got a lot of a lot of stuff. So I like to give back and I just like to help people for real.

And Nate just wondering, you know, there weren't as many underclassmen in this year's draft class you decided to come out early. What played into that decision? Was it just your confidence? And where do you feel like, Hey, I'm a young guy and I still want to grow my game.

Uh?

Yeah, I feel like my decision came off my confident but also like my talent.

I know what I can do, I know what I'm capable of, and I.

Know like I ain't reached I ain't even uh got quite at least of my life highest potentially yet.

So it's just I'm just getting better than Bettle.

As you'll go on, We'll go Jonas Schaeffer and then wrap it up with Cliff Brown.

Any congratulations, man, Is there a game that you feel like from last year or maybe the year before best exemplifies the kind of shutdown corner.

That you are. You said, what the game a game?

Yeah, A sickle game.

Uh, Florida State, not the Dame North Carolina. That's a couple of games I can name. I mean a lot of games. I was just been a setting out of corner, following the best receiver the whole game. So I feel like most of the game I played this year, so that was a lot down corner.

Yeah, Nate.

How do you feel about, you know, being moved around in secondary if that's how the Ravens want to use you, and also playing, you know, covering already against a lot of the time receivers of the SEC. How you feel or actually be acc how you it, I'll help you at the next level.

Uh.

The first question about the moving parts, I feel like, uh, that won't be a big deal with me because I feel like I could do whatever on the defense side, like COVID, I can play ANIGGRO.

I can play safety. So I mean it's not really a big big part.

I don't feel like they'll have a big jump on my success, uh or nothing like that.

What was the other question?

Playing against some of the top receivers. You've said phase in the ACC and also you know when you're playing outside a CEC, how much that will help you. You know, do you think of the adjustment to the next level that will help you what you've already done in college?

Mister, I feel like just my uh defense cord on defense court and making me match up with the best receivers this year, I feel like they had a big change in my life going going on to the next level because, like I mean, I'm gonna see with good receivers every week, and I feel like that's what I was doing when I was going to the best see you every week.

So I feel that's plat a good part.

You're listening to the Ravens Press Pass podcast and this is just the first round of the NFL Drafts. Rounds two and three will be on Friday night, and we'll also have the rest of the draft on Saturday. Nate is going to be in Baltimore on Friday to meet with the local media as well as some of the