Packers re-sign All-Pro return man Keisean Nixon: What to Know

With the NFL legal tampering period opening on Monday, NFL teams can begin negotiating with free agents. The Green Bay Packers’ first move was to re-sign unrestricted free agent Keisean Nixon, according to Ian Rapoport.

This is a one-year deal, as reported by Rapoport, is worth up to a max of $6 million with incentives. With the Packers potentially adding on void years, something that has been more common for them in recent years, they could lower Nixon’s 2023 cap hit to just a few million dollars. An important aspect as they again are low on salary cap space.

With Nixon coming out of nowhere last season, perhaps Green Bay kept his new contract to just one-year as a bit of a prove it deal, to see if he can again make a significant impact.

Nixon joined the Packers last offseason on a minimum deal after having spent the previous part of his career in Las Vegas under Rich Bisaccia as a primary special teams player. Presumably, he was going to take on the same role in Green Bay, and the 2022 season again began that way for Nixon, with him seeing most of his playing time as a flier on the punt return unit, where he, along with Rudy Ford, were very good at limiting the return man.

But eventually, as we all know, Nixon took over as Green Bay’s primary return man, and went on to have an All-Pro season. Nixon finished the year as the only kick returner in the NFL with over 1,000 return yards, despite not taking on that responsibility until Week 6. He also had the fifth-best return average and was one of just four return men with a touchdown. On punts, he again was among the best, with the fifth-highest return rate, according to PFF ($$).

Nixon’s impact on special teams can’t be overstated. His ability as a playmaker was truly game-changing and gave this Green Bay team an element they haven’t had in years. The offense benefitted from better field position, and the trickle-down effect from there was more points, which benefitted the Green Bay defense–not to mention that he could flip the field position at the drop of a hat.

Along with Nixon’s impact on special teams, his return also provides the defense with some much-needed cornerback depth, something that was lacking behind Jaire Alexander, Rasul Douglas – who could move to safety – and Eric Stokes. When called upon, Nixon held his own in the slot and was a willing tackler, while he held opponents to under 10 yards per catch with an interception in coverage.

Given Nixon’s playmaking ability with the ball in his hands, giving him some snaps on offense in 2023 may not be a bad idea, either.

It’s not the Aaron Rodgers news that everyone has been waiting on, but this is a big re-signing made by the Green Bay Packers.