25 Days Until Training Camp: Biggest Question at Cornerback

The Packers' Keisean Nixon came out of nowhere to become the All-Pro returner. Can he do it again while facing many of the NFL's best slot receivers in 2023?

GREEN BAY, Wis. – With Jaire Alexander, the Green Bay Packers have one of the premier defensive players in the NFL. With Rasul Douglas, the Packers have one of the premier ballhawks.

Alexander and Douglas should provide top-flight coverage at the cornerback positions. But what about the slot? With Eric Stokes coming back from a serious foot injury, the Douglas-in-the-slot experiment failing last year and not enough proven depth at safety to move Darnell Savage, that role is being handed to Keisean Nixon.

Nixon came out of nowhere last season to earn All-Pro honors as a kick returner. Can he come out of relative nowhere again and at least be a solid starting defensive back?

In three seasons with the Raiders, Nixon started two games and broke up one pass. Last season with the Packers, Nixon started four games, broke up two passes and grabbed the first interception of his career.

The overall numbers aren’t especially encouraging. According to Pro Football Focus and its best guess at coverage responsibilities, Nixon allowed a 79.3 percent catch rate last season. That’s right in line with his career mark of 79.2 percent.

However, at least he’s got some experience, going from 273 snaps in three seasons with the Raiders to 289 snaps for the Packers in 2022. Three of his starts came down the stretch, so he’s got big-game reps under his belt.

“Towards the end of the year, I already knew the defense,” Nixon said following one of the offseason practices. “I already was comfortable but I started getting more reps. I started a couple games. Now, it’s getting comfortable.”

Keisean Nixon (Photo by Geoff Burke/USA Today Sports Images)

It won’t be easy. Look who’s on the schedule. There are two matchups against Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, who tied for third in the NFL in slot receptions last season, and two matchups against Minnesota superstar Justin Jefferson, who was ninth in slot receptions, third in yards and second in yards per route.

Also on the slate: Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin was first in slot receptions, Jacksonville’s Christian Kirk tied for third, the Chargers’ Keenan Allen was 10th, the Rams’ Cooper Kupp was 11th (but first in 2021) and the Broncos’ Jerry Jeudy was 12th. The Raiders’ Davante Adams was seventh in yards per slot route in 2022 and third with the Packers in 2021.

There were some impressive moments during the offseason practices, including one in which he matched Christian Watson on a deep route and broke up the pass in the end zone.

“We told each other the first day we came in the offseason program, talked about it,” Nixon said. “It was like, ‘We’re going to get each other better.’ We’re going to go against each other a lot this year, and that’s what we’re doing right now, starting early.”

It’s unrealistic for Nixon to earn All-Pro honors on defense in 2023, just as it was for him to do so on special teams in 2022. That doesn’t mean Nixon isn’t shooting for the stars. That’s what competitors do, after all. Having taken the junior-college route to get to South Carolina and the undrafted route to get to stardom in Green Bay, Nixon has the right mindset.

“I got my own standards as a person for myself and my own expectations,” he said. “I always want to prove it to myself that I am who I say I am, and that’s the biggest thing is coming to work every day and showing who I am. The coaches know who I am and trust in my commitment to this team and to my career.”

Countdown to Packers Training Camp

Timing is everything.

It's going to be especially interesting with Rashan Gary's contract extension with the #Packers.https://t.co/qgZk3v65B6

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) July 1, 2023

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