The Green Bay Packers’ 2023 season was always going to be a year of transition, beginning with the trade of Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. That was especially true when they started the season 3-6 and sold Rasul Douglas to the Buffalo Bills for a third-round selection at the trade deadline. But following that game, the Packers won six of their next eight games, and Jordan Love transformed from a question mark to a hero, propelling them into the postseason. That means the Packers should focus on re-signing several important contributors set to become free agents in 2024, like as Keisean Nixon and Bo Melton, who helped push this run.
The Packers don’t have a lot of imminent free agents who were key players on this year’s squad. But one player who made a significant effect on the club in 2023 was Keisean Nixon. Nixon is most recognized for his services on special teams. He has not only led the NFL in kick return yards for the past two seasons, but he has also been named first-team all-pro. His return skill was on full display in Green Bay’s defeat to the San Francisco 49ers, where a 73-yard kick return set up a score that gave the Packers the lead again.
Nixon is not just a kick returner, however. He really stepped up as a nickel corner for the Packers this season too. Nixon had a couple of pass deflections on the season and also had an interception against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs that helped ice that game for the Packers and was a catalyst to kickstart Green Bay’s late-season surge.
In terms of nickel cornerback play, the Packers might outperform Nixon. However, they cannot outperform him as a kick returner. The fact that he can play well in the slot while also providing all-pro type returning ability makes him a guy the Packers cannot afford to lose. They have to do everything they can to get him back.
Bo Melton, Wide Receiver.
It shouldn’t be too difficult for the Packers to bring back Bo Melton. Melton is an exclusive rights free agent, which means he cannot leave the Packers if they make a qualifying offer. That qualifying offer is not going to be worth an outrageous amount of money, so it would be very prudent.The Packers should not let Melton leave either. He was a revelation for the Packers in the last month of the season, as part of the team’s inexperienced receiving core. Melton caught 17 of the 25 targets thrown his way in the Packers’ last five games, for 237 yards and two scores. That included a six-reception game against the Minnesota Vikings, in which he gained 105 yards and had his breakout performance. It was the first time a Packers receiver had more than 100 yards in a game in 2023.
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