Re-sign or let go and prediction: Packers free agent CB/KR Keisean Nixon

The Green Bay Packers have 17 players with expiring contracts entering the 2024 offseason, including 12 unrestricted free agents. In this upcoming series, I will be going through each of the Packers’ unrestricted free agents this offseason, exploring why Green Bay would decide to re-sign each player, why they would choose to move on, and finally, I’ll predict what I think the Packers will do. Up next is Keisean Nixon, who earned his second straight first-team All-Pro award as a return man while also taking on a much larger defensive role in 2024 as the Packers’ starting nickel cornerback. If you missed any of the previous articles in this series, you can find them below:

Cornerback depth is a need that Brian Guteukunst has to address this offseason. Currently on the roster are Jaire Alexander, Eric Stokes, and Carrington Valentine, along with Zyon Gilbert and Anthony Johnson, two practice squad players from 2023.

More specifically, the Packers need someone who can man the slot. Where Nixon was at his best defensively was positioning himself to limit pass catchers to under 10 yards per reception. He also ranked sixth among all cornerbacks in stops last season, and during those final few games, we saw Nixon utilized more as a blitzer.

If the Packers go into 2024 with Alexander, Stokes, and Valentine as their top three cornerback options, that’s a strong trio. However, who is going to line up inside if Nixon doesn’t return?

Of course, the Packers can address that need in the draft, and even if they did re-sign Nixon, that shouldn’t impact how they add to the cornerback room. But having Nixon on the roster at least provides some stability versus going into the draft without anyone to fill that role–unless one of Alexander, Stokes, or Valentine is going to move inside.

And if the Packers find someone early on in the draft to play the nickel, Nixon becomes a good dime cornerback option for the Packers and gives them experienced depth at the position if an injury occurs. Green Bay’s cornerback depth was very much tested this past season.

Not to mention that, as we all know, regardless of Nixon’s role on defense, he will still be able to contribute as a dynamic return man. On his way to another All-Pro season in 2023, Nixon led the NFL in kick return attempts, total return yards, and he finished third in yards per attempt with 27.5.

If the Packers bring back Nixon, because of his special teams abilities, the team is going to get someone who can make a significant impact next season, whether that be just as a return man or on defense as well.

From a defensive standpoint, the Packers can potentially find a higher impact player, and if they do so through the draft, a longer-term answer at the position as well.

Nixon allowed a completion rate of 79 percent on 94 targets last season. As already mentioned, while Nixon did limit pass catchers to 9.7 yards per catch, he didn’t make many plays on the ball. Nixon totaled just five pass breakups, one interception, and was called for five penalties. He was the second-most targeted slot cornerback in football last season, according to PFF.

If the plan for the Packers is to have Nixon be a return man and depth on defense, it’s quite possible that he could earn more money elsewhere if another team views him as both a return man and a defensive starter.