Acme Packing Company
Our subjects in this series so far have been fairly uncontroversial. Rashan Gary, Elgton Jenkins, and Josh Jacobs all carry big cap numbers, and all of them have interesting cases for and against keeping them in 2026.
Keisean Nixon is no less interesting, but the discussion around him is going to be a lot more contentious.
Why? Well, you know why. If Matt LaFleur found himself in Packers’ fans crosshairs after two late-season collapses against the Bears, Keisean Nixon was right there with him. Well, I guess technically he was out on the field, watching various Chicago wide receivers run past him to make key play after key play, but you get the sentiment.
In any case, Nixon has drawn a lot of negative attention this offseason. But in some ways, that’s because Nixon has been a victim of his own success. He originally signed a one-year $965,000 with the Packers in 2022, but his profile steadily rose in Green Bay as he contributed first as an All-Pro kickoff returner, then as a decent slot corner, then, increasingly, as an outside corner. He signed a $4 million deal to return to the Packers in 2022, then inked a three-year $18 million contract in 2023, the last year of which arrives this season.
Those successive raises have come with Nixon’s increasing responsibilities, but his issues in 2025 have prompted questions about his future in Green Bay. So will he be back with the Packers in 2026?
The case for Keisean Nixon
In the grand scheme, Keisean Nixon is fairly cheap as far as cornerbacks go. Now in the third year of that three-year deal, Nixon is set to count a little over $7.1 million against the Packers’ 2026 cap. That ranks 39th among cornerbacks, according to Spotrac. You could obviously do a lot worse, cap-wise, than having Keisean Nixon as your top outside corner.
When healthy, Nixon has a versatile and interesting skill set; he can line up inside, outside, and return kickoffs at an elite level. Should he be your primary corner? Probably not, but the fact that he’s being asked to do that in Green Bay isn’t Keisean Nixon’s problem.
Neither is it Keisean Nixon’s problem that he believes he’s the best cornerback in the world. Every cornerback believes he’s the best cornerback in the world. That’s part of the job. If you don’t have irrational self belief, you probably can’t be an NFL defensive back. A little insanity is just seasoning for these guys. If Nixon didn’t have 150% confidence in his abilities, he probably doesn’t make a play to seal the game against the Bears.
The case against Keisean Nixon
Unfortunately, that confidence cuts both ways, and sometimes Nixon’s confidence outstrips his abilities. He allowed 11.3 yards per catch in 2025, the highest of his tenure in Green Bay. Pro Football Focus also had him on the hook for allowing seven touchdowns this season, also the highest figure of his time with the Packers. PFF had him...
