Keisean Nixon has a fair expectation for his future, but it creates another problem for the Packers
The Green Bay Packers have a need at cornerback, and it's hard to argue with that—especially if they trade or release Jaire Alexander. Based on how the 2024 season went, Keisean Nixon is part of the solution. Throughout the year, he played as a boundary corner consistently for the first time in his career after […]
The Green Bay Packers have a need at cornerback, and it's hard to argue with that—especially if they trade or release Jaire Alexander. Based on how the 2024 season went, Keisean Nixon is part of the solution.
Throughout the year, he played as a boundary corner consistently for the first time in his career after spending most of his time in Green Bay as a slot corner. And that's what Nixon expects to be moving forward. But that creates a follow-up problem: Nixon doesn't want to be a kickoff returner anymore.
"I don’t really want to do it no more," Nixon said, according to Matt Schneidman from The Athletic. "There's going to be talks with the coaching staff and stuff like that, but I think it's over with for me. I want to be CB1. CB1 is not doing kick returns. That's just what it is."
This is a fair perception of his role within the team. In 2024, Nixon and Carrington Valentine were the primary outside cornerbacks when Jaire Alexander was out. Rookie safety Javon Bullard was the primary slot guy.
However, Nixon was an important weapon as a returner. Even though he had a costly fumble against the Philadelphia Eagles in the playoffs, Nixon was a First-Team All-Pro kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023. With the rule changes in 2024, Nixon didn't maintain the same level of production and efficiency, though.
And the Packers don't have an option at this point. On the depth chart, wide receiver Jayden Reed is the primary punt returner and backup kickoff returner. However, Reed has never returned a kickoff in the NFL. As a punt returner, his production was mediocre. And if Nixon doesn't want to play as a returner because he's a top cornerback on the team, you could make the same argument for Reed as a wide receiver.
Contract situation
Keisean Nixon signed a three-year, $18 million extension with the Packers back in the offseason. The cornerback doesn't have guarantees left, but he's slated to make $4.675 million in 2025 and $5 million in 2026, which is affordable considering his performance and versatility.
Even if his plans of becoming a top cornerback don't materialize, Nixon is still a valuable piece of the roster. But if he is neither a top corner nor a kickoff returner, the Packers will have two problems to solve in the same offseason.
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