The Green Bay Packers had full attendance at OTAs and mandatory minicamp. All the players who were supposed to be there showed up without any dispute. However, there are reports that cornerback Keisean Nixon may not show up for training camp without his contract being renegotiated. So, are the Packers about to face a contract dispute with Keisean Nixon?

Are the Packers About to Face a Contract Dispute with Keisean Nixon: The Report

The initial report came on ESPN Radio in Milwaukee, where Jason Wilde indicated that he “cannot say that with any degree of high confidence” that Nixon would play this season without a new contract. That could mean a holdout once training camp gets under way in July.

Nixon enters the 2026 season as the top cornerback on the Packers depth chart. Most scouts consider Nixon a solid CB2 on a good NFL defense. He has come a long way since joining the Packers in 2022 when the team signed him primarily as a kick returner and depth corner.

In 2025, Nixon started all 17 games for the Packers at cornerback. He got off to a strong start to the season but struggled in the latter part of the campaign. Ultimately, Nixon is too inconsistent to be considered a top cover corner. The South Carolina alum broke up 17 passes last season including five in one game against the Commanders. That total was higher than his first six NFL seasons combined.

However, opposing quarterbacks did well when throwing to receivers covered by Nixon. According to pro-football-reference.com, Nixon allowed a 64.4 percent completion percentage, and passers enjoyed a 105.1 quarterback rating when testing Nixon. That was the worst statistical season for Nixon since he became a starting cornerback.

Follow the Money

The 2026 season will be the final year of Nixon’s current contract. According to sportrac.com, Nixon carries a cap hit of a little more than $7.166 million this season. That is not a high number for a starting cornerback, although it isn’t a ridiculously low number either. The next highest paid Packers cornerback on the current roster is Carrington Valentine who carries a cap hit of a little more than half of Nixon’s number.

Nixon finds himself in a similar situation to where offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins was a year ago. Jenkins wanted to either sign an extension or to at least get assurances from the Packers that he was in their plans beyond the 2025 season. Ultimately, Jenkins returned without receiving a new deal or any assurances.

Unfortunately, Jenkins struggled through a disappointing season after moving to center and then suffered a season-ending injury. The Packers parted ways with him this offseason, and Jenkins has since signed with the Cleveland Browns.

Are the Packers About to Face a Contract Dispute with Keisean Nixon: Looking Ahead

The Packers seem unlikely to sign Nixon to a lengthy extension. He will turn 29 later this month and will be 30 before the start of the 2027 season. GM Brian Gutekunst rarely signs players to new contracts after the age of 30. The exceptions have been proven, elite players like David Bakhtiari, Kenny Clark, and Aaron Rodgers.

The Packers have also addressed the future of the cornerback position this offseason. They signed free agent Benjamin St-Juste to a two-year contract. At the draft, the Packers used their second-round selection on Brandon Cisse who they anticipate being ready to start by 2027. Then, in the sixth round, Gutekunst doubled down at the position by adding Domani Jackson.

If Nixon does hold out, Cisse will likely get extra reps in training camp which could speed up his development. The Packers would take a hit at cornerback in the short term, but Gutekunst could address it in other ways.

The Packers could also add another cornerback in the 2027 NFL Draft or re-sign the younger and cheaper Valentine. A trade could also be worked out to add a cornerback before the start of the regular season and possibly move Nixon to another team if he refuses to report.

Nixon’s desire for more money is understandable, but his play on the field and his age make an extension or renegotiation unlikely. We’ll see whether Nixon reports to training camp next month and how things go from there.

 

 

Follow Gil Martin on Twitter @GilPackers

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