On Monday, the "tampering period" of NFL Free Agency began, and players from all across the league started agreeing to new contracts with NFL franchises. One of the last agreements of the first night came as former South Carolina football defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw came to terms with the New York Jets on a 1-year contract.
On Tuesday, another former Gamecock free agent (and a former teammate of Kinlaw in Columbia) reached an agreement on a new contract. According to a report from ESPN's Rob Demovsky, All-Pro kick returner and starting slot corner Keisean Nixon will return to the Green Bay Packers on a 3-year deal worth $18 Million. His previous contract had a maximum value of $4 Million.
With a $6 Million average annual value, the Packers seemed to get a good deal in resigning Nixon. Nixon has been an All-Pro as a kick returner the last two seasons, and he is only the fourth player ever to receive the honor in back-to-back seasons. The former Gamecock led the league in total return yardage the past two seasons, and in the 2023 season, he also led the NFL in return average.
Nixon has also become a good player on defense. After spending the first four years of his career as a reserve on defense, he spent last year as the full-time starter in the slot, As the team's primary nickel, Nixon racked up 80 tackles in the regular season. He had one of his best performances in the NFL playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys when he had 11 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, and 2 passes broken up in the Packers' road win over America's Team.
Nixon, Kinlaw, and all the other free agents agreeing to deals cannot officially sign a new contract until the new league year begins at 4:00 PM EST on Wednesday, March 13th.