Keisean Nixon talked himself up this offseason. He now has the chance to back that talk up because he just became the Green Bay Packers' de facto CB1.
The Packers had an "on again, off again" relationship with former first-round pick and Pro Bowler Jaire Alexander all offseason. Initially, it seemed like Alexander and the Packers were headed for a divorce, but after the NFL Draft, general manager Brian Gutekunst expressed that the team and Alexander were trying to work out a new deal to keep him in Green Bay.
That was the latest major update until Monday, when it was announced that the Packers had cut their star cornerback.
Apparently, a new deal was not to be had. We know the Packers offered, but Alexander clearly didn't want to take less money.
Alexander is now free to try to prove himself elsewhere while the Packers pick up over $17 million in salary cap space after releasing a highly-paid player who had only played in 14 total games over the past two seasons due to injury.
On paper, it looks like a win-win for both parties, but that's only if Nixon can back up what he said early on in the offseason.
After the 2024-25 season ended, Nixon, an All-Pro kick returner, mentioned that he was no longer interested in returning kicks and instead wanted to focus on cornerback heading into 2025.
"I want to be CB1," Nixon said during locker cleanout. "CB1 is not doing kick returns. That's just what it is."
Nixon is a great athlete who has flashed the ability to make plays, but it was laughable at the time that he'd ever be considered Green Bay's top wideout.
Now?
Not only does Nixon get a chance to prove himself, but the Packers don't seem to have another choice at CB1 outside of him.
They signed Nate Hobbs this offseason from the Las Vegas Raiders, but he's expected to be a slot corner. Third-year player Carrington Valentine had a good season in 2024 with two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five passes defended, but can he prove to be consistent? Right now, that's a big question mark.
Nixon, himself, had a nice season in 2024 with a career-high seven pass breakups, three forced fumbles (another career high) and an interception, but consistency is his issue as well. He needs to be able to prove that he can do it over time.
The truth of the matter is that Nixon, Hobbs and Valentine are good complementary pieces for a defense, but these aren't players that anyone would consider true "lockdown" cornerbacks. Well, at least they weren't heading into this offseason, but now one of them has a chance to step up.
They can all try, but it's Nixon who will be under the most pressure to do so.
He talked a big talk, and now he gets a chance to walk a big walk.
The pressure will be on for the 27-year-old undrafted free agent out of South Carolina in 2025.
He's previously beaten the odds and made a name for himself as a returner. Can he do the same at corner?
Only time will tell, but he'll never be able to say that the Packers didn't allow him to back up his words.
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