Cardinals selected Cincinnati S James Wiggins with the No. 243 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Wiggins (5'11/209) saw his career arc stunted by an ACL injury he suffered just before the 2019 season opener. The starting safety had earned second-team All-AAC honors the year before, so it was reasonable to expect him to take another leap forward. When Wiggins got that chance again in 2020, he delivered. Wiggins moved up to the first-team All-AAC, thanks in part to a stat line that featured six passes defended, one interception, one sack, and a forced fumble. Though not the most aggressive player at the point of attack, Wiggins is a comfortable tackler from anywhere on the field. Wiggins played from both the slot and as a split-field safety in Cincinnati’s defense, showing off his excellent 4.42 40-yard dash speed from both spots. Wiggins would be best in a defense that likes to play from two-high and move their safeties around and could carve out a career similar to Glover Quin.
