The Arizona Cardinals selected safety James Wiggins with one of their two seventh-round draft picks. He has big aspirations. He also understands how to get there.
While at Cincinnati in college, he not only was very productive before his ACL tear in 2018, he also was a standout special teams player.
He considers being called a special teams player a compliment.
“Special teams is an important part of the game,” he told reporters Thursday.
He also knows that it is an essential step in his development, especially as a Day 3 draft pick.
“I know I want to be in the starting lineup, but to get to that point, you have to be a dog on special teams,” he said.
He doesn’t have to look far for a career to model himself after. It is the route Budda Baker took. Now an All-Pro safety with a big contract, Baker was a Pro Bowl special teamer as a rookie. He didn’t crack the lineup until Tyvon Branch got hurt.
Wiggins admittedly will have to try to avoid being star-struck when he meets Baker. “It’s kind of like you’re meeting a celebrity, but you’re also working with him at the same time,” he said.
He envisions playing on the field with Baker and creating a lot of confusion for opposing quarterbacks.
Wiggins has the right mindset. He knows he will have to stand out on special teams, especially with the group of players he is competing for a roster spot with. Chris Banjo, Charles Washington and Shawn Williams all are established special teams players in the NFL.
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