The Green Bay Packers’ defense will be closely monitored in the 2025 NFL season, with the secondary expected to gain plenty of attention from fans and media as well. In the 2024 NFL season, the Packers posted a high defensive interception rate and finished third in the league with a total of 17 defensive picks.
The promise for solid work on that side of the field remains for the Packers going into the 2025 NFL season, and that’sdespite Jaire Alexander parting wayswith Green Bay over the offseason.
The Packers signed Nate Hobbs to give the secondary depth andwith Keisean Nixon on the rise, the expectation is that he’ll turn into a bigger problem for opposing passing attacks.
USATSI 25199646 168400517 lowres
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (14) makes a catch for a touchdown against Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) during the first half at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. on Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024.
Nixon needs to prove himself at cornerback position
Green Bay Packers, Keisean Nixon
Jan 12, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) returns a kick off against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter in the NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Nixon is a two-time All-Pro, but that’s for his body of work with the special teams as a kickoff returner. However, he believes that he can make just as big of an impact with an increased role in the secondary for Green Bay, which signed him to one-year deals in 2022 and 2023 before handing him a three-year extension contract worth $18 million in 2024.
Over at ESPN, Rob Demovsky named Nixon as the Packers player with the most pressure in the 2025 campaign.
He said after last season that he wanted to be a No. 1 CB. Now that Jaire Alexander is gone, Nixon might get that chance. Sure, the Packers signed Nate Hobbs in free agency, and defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley plays a high amount of zone coverage, but Nixon will be counted on to shut down opposing receivers. The question is, can he deliver?
Nixon saw just 28 percent of defensive snaps in his first season with the Packers in 2022 and that leaped to 73 percent in 2023 before seeing 94 percent of such snaps in 2024.
USATSI 26792433 168400517 lowres
Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon (25) runs through a drill during practice on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon, Wis.
Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
For More Great Wisconsin Sports Content
Follow me on Twitter at@theotherRobin19 and follow us@WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports,click here!