Keisean Nixon was one of the Green Bay Packers‘ most pleasant surprises during the 2024 season.
The 27-year-old had one of the strongest seasons of his career, holding opposing quarterbacks to 99.7 passer rating while opposing receivers managed just 8.9 yards per reception when going up against him in 2024, according to Pro Football Focus.
Perhaps most impressively is that a significant portion of Nixon’s season was spent traveling against the opponent’s top receiver.
“He’s an outstanding competitor,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst told reporters, of Nixon, during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. “Didn’t blink when we asked him to do that.”
Now, as the offseason begins in earnest and the Packers appear to be shopping 28-year-old Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander, Nixon could be called upon to once again match up against some of the premier wide receivers in the league, as Green Bay’s top cornerback.
The former undrafted free agent out of South Carolina, seems to have found a home in coordinator Jeff Hafley’s defense, producing a career-high 88 total tackles with one interception and three sacks last season, thriving not only in coverage but as a heat-seeking missile in cornerback blitz packages.
The fact that Alexander was only healthy enough to play in seven games last season was a solid trial for Nixon, who could take on an expanded role, while perhaps emerging as the biggest beneficiary of an Alexander trade, if Gutekunst and the Packers are able to pull one off in the coming weeks.
“I think he really fit what Jeff was trying to do,” Gutekunst said. “His athleticism and his ability to (read QBs) with his eyes and his ability to tackle served us well out there.
“For me, he may not have the length that some of those guys on the outside have, but his awareness and ball skills make up for that.”
