Once known as an All-Pro returner, Keisean Nixon has long waited for the chance to prove himself as a starting cornerback. Now, he’s finally getting a major opportunity—and making the most of it.
Nixon’s Path to Green Bay
Nixon entered the league in 2018 as an undrafted free agent out of South Carolina. He signed with the Raiders, but never saw more than 155 defensive snaps in any of his three seasons there.
The Packers picked him up before the 2022 season on a one-year, $965,000 deal. While he quickly became a star in the return game, he also began to earn steady defensive reps.
By 2023, Nixon’s role expanded significantly. He logged 937 defensive snaps, including 633 in coverage, showing enough growth for Green Bay to re-sign him to a three-year, $18 million contract with $6.5 million guaranteed.
In his first season under the new deal, he allowed 57 receptions on 86 targets for five touchdowns, while recording one interception and six pass breakups. Opposing quarterbacks posted a passer rating of 97.5 when targeting him.
The numbers may not scream “elite,” but they reflect steady improvement and the potential to take the next step as a true lockdown corner.
Strong Start in Week 1
Nixon opened the 2025 season lined up on the outside against one of the league’s most explosive offenses, the Detroit Lions. He allowed four catches on four targets for 42 yards, though without a minor defensive mistake, that total could have been under 30 yards.
Elite Numbers in Week 2
In Week 2, Nixon took his game to another level. Against Washington, Nixon tied a franchise record for the most pass breakups in a single game with five.
He broke up five passes and allowed zero completions on five targets–elite.
“The ball was just coming my way. I usually don’t get that many targets in a game, but I was in my zone,” Nixon said after Green Bay’s 27-18 win. “I knew what I can do and what I’m capable of—but you all are just understanding it now.”
Stepping Into the CB1 Role
So far this season, Nixon has lined up almost exclusively on the outside, with 123 of his 136 total snaps at corner and none in the slot.
He played much of his snaps in previous seasons as a nickel corner. However, consistent injuries to Jaire Alexander in recent seasons gave him experience on the outside. Now, with Alexander no longer in Green Bay, Nixon has stepped confidently into the primary cornerback role.
Packers defensive pass-game coordinator Derrick Ansley praised Nixon’s mindset earlier this year:
“If you ask Keisean that question and he’s standing up here, he embraces the challenge, he wants the challenge,” Ansley said. “He wants the hard downs. He looks at himself as CB1, so he wants everything that comes with that.”
Through two games, Green Bay’s defense has yet to allow a touchdown before the fourth quarter—a sign of the unit’s growth and Nixon’s emergence as a reliable top corner.
Final Notes
Keisean Nixon’s steady improvement shows he’s trending toward becoming a premier cornerback in the NFL. The Packers invested in his potential with a new contract, and if his progress continues, he will cement himself as a key piece in shaping the future of Green Bay’s defense.
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