Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports that former Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins was among the draft prospects the San Francisco 49ers hosted on Top-30 visits.
Cornerback stands out as one of the 49ers' primary needs heading into the draft. The team has been striving to solidify the outside spot opposite Charvarius Ward for years. Doing so this year would allow Deommodore Lenoir to transition to the slot position permanently.
Wiggins is one of several cornerbacks the 49ers have welcomed for visits. Andru Phillips of Kentucky, Decamerion Richardson of Mississippi State, and Chau Smith-Wade of Washington State are among the recent visitors to the team's Santa Clara facility.
According to Sports Reference, Wiggins posted 29 tackles, including one for a loss, a sack, six passes defensed, two interceptions, a touchdown, and two forced fumbles through 10 game appearances as a senior in 2023, earning first-team All-ACC honors.
Wiggins earned a career-high 82.5 overall and 83.9 coverage grades from Pro Football Focus in 2023. Opposing quarterbacks posted a dismal 44.4 passer rating when targeting the young cornerback, who allowed only 18 catches for 176 yards and one touchdown in 41 targets. He is anticipated to be a first-round draft pick.
"Wiggins' 6-foot-2 frame and length allow him to disrupt receivers in the contact window and at the catch point," reads the cornerback's Pro Football Focus draft profile. "He also has above-average athleticism for the position. His footwork is quick and controlled, his hips flip fluidly and fast and he has impressive recovery speed. Although Wiggins didn't have many interceptions, his forced incompletion percentage and awareness prove that he is impactful.
"The best part about him is he remains confident in both man and zone responsibilities. He has a slender build, and that shows up when tasked with tackling, getting off blocks and handling stronger receivers in their routes."
Over three seasons with the Tigers, he amassed 60 tackles, including three for a loss, a sack, 21 passes defensed, three interceptions, two touchdowns, and two forced fumbles.
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Wiggins measured 6' 1 3/8" and 173 pounds, posting a 40-yard dash time of 4.28 seconds, a vertical jump of 36 inches, and a broad jump of 10 feet, 7 inches.
Visit our pre-draft tracker for a comprehensive overview of all reported formal and informal meetings between the 49ers and prospective NFL rookies.
The 2024 NFL Draft will take place in Detroit, Michigan, from Thursday, April 25, through Saturday, April 27.
