Keisean Nixon’s journey has been something to behold. A former undrafted free agent who spent three years with the Raiders, playing just 274 snaps of defense before being picked up by the Packers on a veteran minimum deal, he has continued to defy the odds and carve out a role.
First as a kick returner, Nixon was a surprising sensation, earning All-Pro honors in 2022 and 2023. But his ascent to becoming a staple of Green Bay’s defense has been even more impressive.
Nixon has taken every opportunity he has been given since signing with the Packers and ran with it.
As GM Brian Gutekunst put it: “Any time we’ve given Keisean any different role, whether it’s as a kick returner, whether it was on defense, he’s answered the bell and been really productive for us.”
There have been multiple times when it would have been easy to assume Nixon had hit his peak, but he keeps finding another level.
Now in his fourth year with the Packers, Nixon is slated to be a starting outside cornerback in 2025 after making the transition from the slot position during last season.
The numbers back up the consistent progress he has made as a pro. Nixon has improved as a corner in almost every ‘under the hood’ statistical category year on year, earning and making the most of his increased snap count from scrimmage.
Nixon’s athletic profile would appear to project better on the boundary than inside, as he has plenty of speed to run with receivers but lacks the wiggle to avoid them shaking him in situations where they have more space to work with, like in the slot.
Nixon improved in the slot as time went on, but was a better perimeter corner in 2024 than he was inside. He averaged a 63.8 PFF grade when playing the majority of his snaps outside as opposed to 58 in the slot.
While neither of those numbers are extraordinary, and no one would mistake Nixon for an elite corner, he also showed real progress the more he was allowed to play as an outside corner, posting a 67.6 grade in the final six games in which he played primarily on the boundary.
He was still never allowed to fully commit to the task of playing on the perimeter last season though, often splitting time during games or being asked to move back to the slot based on what the team needed.
With some experience under his belt, and his sole attention now on the outside, Nixon feels he can hit the ground running in 2025.
He told the Green Bay media: “Second year naturally playing corner, I’m just more comfortable now and I don’t really have to worry about going inside, outside, I can just focus on one position now and it’s going really good for me.
“Now I know who I’m going to guard coming into the game and I can just lock in on my technique and my mindset’s just a little different. I can really use my athletic ability and just get better.”
The signs from early training camp practices have been very encouraging, as Nixon has rarely been beaten. Even when he gave up a reception to first-round rookie Matthew Golden on Monday, the receiver had to pull off an incredible catch over Nixon, who was in tight coverage.
Nixon has made a routine of being the first player out to the practice field, and is clearly a respected figure within the organization. Gutekunst was full of praise for him when speaking to the media Tuesday.
He said: “When we brought him in we knew he could play nickel and obviously the special teams stuff, and then when he got his opportunities outside he just kept making plays. He was comfortable out there, he made good decisions, and was physical in the run game.
“I’m excited to see as he continues to gain more experience outside what he does for us.”
Head coach Matt LaFleur said of Nixon: “I love how he competes. I got a lot of confidence in Keisean and it all starts with the mindset to go out there and compete.”
On locker cleanout day at the end of the 2024 season, Nixon said he was focused on becoming “CB1” going forward.
It was easy to scoff at that notion, but given how Nixon has time and time again gone above and beyond what his ceiling was previously perceived to be, betting against him to hit new heights in 2025 may be ill-advised.