Packers reach long-term contract with Keisean Nixon
After two consecutive short-term deals, Keisean Nixon has finally received a longer commitment from the Green Bay Packers. On Tuesday, the Packers agreed to terms with the slot cornerback and kickoff returner on a three-year, $18 million extension, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The contract can go up to $19.2 million via incentives and […]
After two consecutive short-term deals, Keisean Nixon has finally received a longer commitment from the Green Bay Packers. On Tuesday, the Packers agreed to terms with the slot cornerback and kickoff returner on a three-year, $18 million extension, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
The contract can go up to $19.2 million via incentives and it's an upgrade over the one-year, $4 million deal that Nixon got last offseason.
The Packers had signed Keisean Nixon twice over the last two years. In 2022, Nixon received a veteran minimum's contract to be a normal special teamer after his experience with Rich Bisaccia for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Then, a breakout season as a kick returner ensued. Last year, he got a new contract, but it was another one-year pact, this time around for $4 million. Now consolidated as a top returner with two First-Team All-Pro selections and two seasons as the kickoff return yards leader in the NFL, he got a bigger deal.
Double role
In 2023, Keisean Nixon not only established himself as a top kick returner, but he also had a real defensive role for the Packers. Being the starting nickel corner, he played 72.82% of the defensive snaps in the regular season, plus 46.39% of the special teams snaps. He also had one offensive snap (hell yes!).
For next year, the Packers would ideally want to improve their slot corner position. Nixon finished the season with a 59.8 overall defensive PFF grade (61.2 grade in pass coverage), allowing a 103.8 passer rating when targeted and missing 14 tackles. Nixon had one interception, and it was against Patrick Mahomes.
On special teams, Nixon is certainly a positive-impact player. Besides being an elite kickoff returner, he can also be an eventual punt returner and gunner.
Nixon led the NFL with 782 kickoff return yards — the second place was New York Jets' Xavier Gipson, with 511 yards. In addition to the high volume, Nixon was also efficient. He was tied for fifth in the entire league in average per return (26.1) among players with at least 10 attempts. He also had 14 punt returns, with a 6.8 average per return.
Keisean Nixon is a pretty important player, and he's had momentum-altering plays over his two years in Green Bay. Ideally, the Packers will improve at slot corner, but his role as a rotational defender and as an elite special teamer can't be overstated.
