The Green Bay Packers are staring down a tricky offseason, and the salary cap isn’t doing them any favors. According to OverTheCap, Green Bay has just $1.4 million in available cap space heading into 2026.
That number will tick up once the league finalizes the official cap figure, but it won’t be enough to avoid some tough decisions. General manager Brian Gutekunst may need to shake up the roster - and that could include moving on from some familiar names.
One of those names? Keisean Nixon.
Nixon’s situation is complicated. On one hand, he’s a versatile player who’s made an impact on special teams and seen consistent snaps on defense. On the other hand, his production dipped in 2025, and his $5 million cap hit suddenly looks a lot heavier for a team trying to stay competitive with minimal financial wiggle room.
Let’s break it down.
Nixon’s Role - and Regression
Nixon came into the league as a scrappy, do-it-all defensive back and quickly made his mark as one of the league’s most electric returners. In fact, he earned All-Pro honors for his work on special teams - a rare distinction that speaks to just how dynamic he can be with the ball in his hands.
But this past season, that spark didn’t show up as often. Nixon wasn’t featured consistently in the return game, a surprising development considering it’s arguably his greatest strength. Instead, he spent most of his time at cornerback, where the results were mixed at best.
He started all 17 games in 2025, but the numbers tell a story of a player who struggled to make game-changing plays. One interception.
Seven touchdowns allowed. A 105.4 passer rating when targeted.
All career-worst marks since joining the Packers nearly four years ago. His Pro Football Focus grade of 66.4 ranked him 42nd out of 114 qualifying corners - respectable, but not exactly irreplaceable.
Special Teams: The Missed Opportunity
Green Bay’s coaching staff may have hoped Nixon would step up again as a returner, especially with the offense in need of better field position throughout the year. But that didn’t happen consistently. Yes, he returned three kicks for 69 yards in the Wild Card loss to the Bears - a reminder of what he can do - but those flashes were too few and far between.
Head coach Matt LaFleur will have to weigh that when deciding Nixon’s future. If Nixon isn’t willing to embrace the returner role that made him so valuable in the first place, then it’s fair to ask: what is his long-term value to this roster?
Cap Crunch and Roster Math
This is where the financial side comes into play. Cutting or trading Nixon would free up $5 million in cap space.
That’s not a game-changer on its own, but for a team that can’t even afford to add a first-round pick at the moment, every dollar matters. Gutekunst has to find creative ways to build out the roster, and sometimes that means saying goodbye to good players who no longer fit the plan.
Nixon’s contract is up after this season, so the Packers could simply let him walk. But if there’s a trade opportunity - and there might be - it’s something worth exploring.
Familiar Faces in Miami
There’s also an intriguing wrinkle out of Miami. Former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley is now the Dolphins’ head coach, and former Green Bay executive Jon-Eric Sullivan just took over as GM.
That front office knows Nixon well. If they’re looking to bolster their secondary or add a proven return man, Nixon could be a target.
Would Gutekunst pick up the phone? At this point, he has to.
What’s Next for the CB Room?
The cornerback group in Green Bay is going to be under the microscope this offseason. Nixon isn’t the only question mark - Nate Hobbs could be another name on the move - and the reality is, there aren’t many untouchables in that room right now.
This isn’t about Nixon being a bad player. It’s about fit, value, and direction.
The Packers are trying to build a contender with limited resources, and that means making hard calls. Nixon’s versatility and past production will keep him on some teams’ radars, but whether that team is still Green Bay remains to be seen.
Bottom line: if Nixon’s not returning kicks, and he’s not locking down receivers, it’s tough to justify his cap number - especially when the Packers are counting every cent.