Packers free agent watch list: CB/KR Keisean Nixon
The Green Bay Packers have signed Keisean Nixon twice over the last two years, and they will need to do it a third time if they want him on the roster in 2024. Two years ago, Nixon received a veteran minimum's contract to be a normal special teamer after his experience with Rich Bisaccia for […]
The Green Bay Packers have signed Keisean Nixon twice over the last two years, and they will need to do it a third time if they want him on the roster in 2024. Two years ago, 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's slated to be an unrestricted free agent once again.
Role and numbers
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.
Price tag
Spotrac gives Keisean Nixon a valuation of a one-year, $1.7 million deal, but they compared him just to other cornerbacks. In 2023, the Packers gave him a $4 million contract mainly because of his ability as a returner.
This time around, Green Bay will have three options. The first one is to let him walk in free agency, leaving behind $1.48 million in dead money — they added void years to his current deal to lower his cap hit. If the Packers want to keep Nixon, the options are a new one-year deal (probably for a similar value, and keeping the money from the previous contract stretched for cap purposes), or a longer-term extension.
Something like a three-year, $15 million deal could help the Packers to establish the returning position, and secure Nixon's defensive role (possibly as a backup cornerback) for a few seasons. Moreover, this type of deal would give the Packers more cap flexibility in future years.
Verdict
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.
Sure enough, if a team comes with a monster offer, Green Bay won't have many options. But if the market is fair as it was last year, the Packers will most likely love to keep Nixon around.
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