The Green Bay Packers enter the 2024 offseason with 17 free agents, 12 of whom are unrestricted. They’re going to have to make some hard choices about who to extend and who to let go. One of those unrestricted free agents might not be a truly dominant defender, but he provides essential value at a relatively affordable price point.
Two-time All-Pro kick returner Keisean Nixon started all 17 regular-season games for the Packers last season. His deal voided on February 19, triggering $1.48 million in dead cap for the Packers in 2024.
According to PFF, Nixon ranked as a top-four cornerback in stops and was among the top 10 in tackles. He allowed the 11th-lowest passer rating among 49 cornerbacks with at least 300 coverage snaps.
However, he allowed 81.8% of passes in his direction to be caught and missed 14 tackles. Additionally, he allowed a 103.8 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks. Nixon had as many penalties (four) as pass breakups.
Nixon may not have much leverage as a corner, but he led the NFL with 782 return yards in 2023. Over the last two seasons, Nixon has accumulated over 2,000 total yards as a kick and punt returner. Notably, he ranks in the top five in kick-return yards per attempt among players with at least 20 attempts.
The Packers need an upgrade at slot corner. Assuming they can get him back at the right price, re-signing Nixon makes sense from a roster-building and financial standpoint. He will cost cap space for the Packers next year due to his voided deal, but he gives them valuable depth and the league’s biggest threat in the return game.
Upgrading at slot corner doesn’t necessarily mean that Nixon will see diminished playing time. Over the past three seasons, Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes have missed 24 games each due to various injuries. Alexander had shoulder and back issues, and Stokes had foot and hamstring problems. Nixon, meanwhile, has played almost 1,000 total defensive snaps over 19 games on defense this season. His durability could mean playing time next year, if history is any indicator.
Nixon may not deliver exceptional cornerback play on every snap, but he possesses the ability and knowledge to step up when it matters most. “We were watching mannerism tape earlier in the week,” Nixon said after his crucial interception against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“(Mahomes) tapped his knee, and they put two off the ball, and I’m like, ‘Oh, I’ve seen this before.’ I knew he was gonna run it, and he ran it.”
In addition to his clutch interception against Kansas City, Nixon demonstrated his value with a pivotal sack against the Dallas Cowboys during the playoffs. His timely sack effectively pushed the Cowboys out of field goal range. Notably, he excelled in maintaining containment leverage on Dak Prescott while dropping back in coverage.
Jeff Hafley should be able to bring out more in Nixon than Joe Barry did. Hafley has a proven track record of extracting the best from his defenses, as evidenced by his successful stint at Ohio State. Jeff Okudah, Jordan Fuller, Damon Arnette, and Shaun Wade thrived under Hafley’s coaching, combining for 114 tackles and seven interceptions in 2019. With Hafley’s ability to optimize defensive schemes and maximize player potential, Nixon stands to benefit from Hafley’s coaching acumen.
Green Bay has the financial flexibility to bring Keisean Nixon back on an affordable multi-year deal. By doing so, the Packers can retain the best kick returner in the league while securing a dependable depth player who has consistently demonstrated the ability to stay healthy and contribute as a starter when needed.
