Though the 2024 NFL draft is still months away, the Indianapolis Colts are hard at work putting together the big board of prospects.
Finding a cornerback may be near the top of the list in terms of needs to target during the draft, and the No. 15 overall selection slot gives Indy a chance to add some premier talent.
In the latest mock draft from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, the Colts used that pick to select Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins.
Wiggins is going to put on a show at the NFL Scouting Combine and might be drafted earlier than this slot. The Colts have proven they value traits, and this Clemson product is the big-time-traits corner in this year’s draft.
There is no denying the Colts love to harp on traits. It’s not always what they search for, but Chris Ballard has made it clear the organization believes their draft picks should have a certain baseline of athleticism.
Wiggins is an intriguing prospect. He has the length and athleticism that Ballard will love, and he shows plenty of promise to work both in press-man and in zone coverage.
There are questions about his physicality and overall ability to be a productive asset against the run. While that’s not necessarily the top priority for a cornerback, it is something the Colts value highly. This is especially true when considering Gus Bradley’s scheme.
The zone-heavy scheme Bradley implements often results in the cornerbacks needing to have an edge when it comes to run defense.
It will be interesting to see how highly the Colts value Wiggins’ upside as a cover corner despite questions about his run defense, but he’s certainly a name to keep an eye on at the NFL scouting combine next week.
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