Keisean Nixon and the Packers’ Cornerback Conundrum: A Closer Look at 2026
The Packers have some tough decisions looming this offseason, and not all of them are as straightforward as cutting high-priced veterans or extending cornerstone players. Keisean Nixon sits right in the middle of that gray area - a player who’s done enough to stay relevant, but not quite enough to silence the critics.
Let’s be real: Nixon’s 2025 season wasn’t pretty, and fans haven’t forgotten it. His struggles down the stretch - especially in those late-season collapses against the Bears - were hard to miss. But if we zoom out and look at the full picture, Nixon’s situation is more complex than just a few blown coverages.
How Nixon Got Here
Nixon’s rise in Green Bay has been a steady climb. He came in on a modest one-year deal in 2022, made his mark as an All-Pro kickoff returner, and gradually took on more responsibility in the secondary. By 2023, he’d earned a three-year, $18 million contract - not superstar money, but enough to signal the Packers believed in his upside.
That contract now enters its final year, with Nixon set to count just over $7.1 million against the cap in 2026. That ranks 39th among NFL cornerbacks, per Spotrac - a reasonable price tag for a player with his versatility.
What Nixon Brings to the Table
At his best, Nixon is a Swiss Army knife. He can play inside, outside, and still return kicks at an elite level. That kind of flexibility isn’t easy to find, and it’s part of the reason he’s stuck around despite his limitations in coverage.
He also brings an edge - the kind of swagger you need to survive as an NFL corner. Nixon believes he’s the best corner in the league, and while that might raise eyebrows, it’s not unusual.
Confidence - even the irrational kind - is part of the job description. You don’t make game-sealing plays without it.
And Nixon has had his moments. He’s not just a talker; he’s made plays when it counts. That matters, especially on a defense that’s still searching for consistency.
Where It Went Wrong in 2025
That said, Nixon’s confidence hasn’t always matched his performance. In 2025, he allowed 11.3 yards per reception - the highest mark of his time in Green Bay - and was credited with giving up seven touchdowns, also a career high.
According to Pro Football Focus, he ranked 24th out of 76 corners who played at least 350 coverage snaps. That’s solid, but far from elite.
The issue isn’t that Nixon is a bad player. It’s that he’s being asked to be something he’s not: a true No. 1 corner.
And when you’re lining up against top receivers every week, those limitations get exposed quickly. Nixon’s not the reason the Packers’ secondary has struggled, but he’s certainly been caught in the middle of it.
The Bigger Problem: Who Else Is There?
Here’s where things get tricky. The Packers’ cornerback depth chart isn’t exactly brimming with alternatives.
Carrington Valentine has shown flashes, but he’s been up and down. The team even took a flyer on Trevon Diggs - a former star now several years removed from his prime and battling through multiple injuries - and played him for just one snap in the playoffs.
That says a lot.
Then there’s Nate Hobbs, who’s more comfortable in the slot, and a group of undrafted or bottom-of-the-roster types who aren’t ready for prime time. Unless the Packers plan to make a splash in free agency - a tough ask given their cap situation - or strike gold in the draft without a first-round pick, this is the group they’re rolling with.
The Verdict: Nixon Stays - Because He Has To
So where does that leave Nixon? In short, still in Green Bay - not because he’s the ideal solution, but because the Packers don’t have a better one.
He’s affordable, experienced, and versatile. He’s not a lockdown corner, and he’s not going to erase opposing WR1s.
But he’s also not the biggest problem on this defense. If anything, he’s a reflection of the Packers’ larger issue at cornerback: a lack of depth, consistency, and high-end talent.
In a perfect world, Nixon is your third corner - a rotational piece who can step in when needed, return kicks, and bring energy to the field. In Green Bay’s current world, he’s CB1 by default. That’s not ideal, but it’s the reality.
For now, the Packers will ride with Nixon into 2026. And unless something changes drastically between now and training camp, he’ll be lining up on the outside again this fall - flaws, confidence, and all.