2023 NFL Free Agency: Former Gamecock defender gets new contract after All-Pro season

Keisean Nixon, a South Carolina football alum, just agreed to a 1-year contract worth up to $6 Million to stay with the Green Bay Packers. Last season, Nixon was a reserve defensive back for the Packers but was one of the best returners in all of football as he racked up over 1000 kick return yards and was selected as an All-Pro as a kick returner. NFL free agency does not officially start until March 15th, so the deal will not be official until then.

Nixon spent two seasons as a member of the South Carolina football team. He played sparingly in his first season in Columbia in 2017, but he saw lots of game action in his senior year of 2018. He snagged two interceptions as a junior and knocked away nine passes to lead the team his senior year. Nixon was one of six different members of the 2018 secondary to make it to the NFL, joining Jaycee Horn, Israel Mukuamu, Rashad Fenton, Jaylan Foster, and JT Ibe.

Since joining the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Raiders in 2019, Nixon has played primarily as a reserve defensive back. After a move to Green Bay to play with the Packers, Nixon started returning kicks, something he had only done sparingly with the Raiders and the Gamecocks.

The move paid off for Nixon as he flipped several games in the Packers’ favor last season. The biggest of these came when he took a kick back for a score against the divisional opponent Minnesota Vikings.

Packers fans were nervous this offseason after Nixon’s contract expired, but Cheese Heads everywhere can relax now knowing that the kick return game will be a weapon again in 2023.