Packers: Re-signing Keisean Nixon must be a priority this week

Only a couple of days before teams can negotiate deals with free agents, the Green Bay Packers have done very little.

They have restructured contracts to get under the salary cap, but they are yet to re-sign any free agents.

First-team All-Pro Keisean Nixon can agree to join any team when the free agency negotiating period begins on Monday. He could then officially sign on Wednesday.

After an excellent first season in Green Bay, it would make zero sense for the Packers not to pay him. They need to make it happen, and ideally before other teams get the opportunity.

Nixon provided value on special teams and cover on defense in the first half of the season. That alone made him a valuable addition to the roster in free agency.

On defense, Nixon made two pass defenses and an interception.

After the Packers moved on from wide receiver Amari Rodgers, they made Nixon their full-time kick returner, and the rest was history.

Nixon ended up leading the NFL in kick return yards with 1,009. He had multiple kick returns of over 50 yards and scored on a 105-yard return against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 17.

For all of the important roles he plays, especially on special teams, re-signing Nixon should be a top priority in the coming days. The Packers have the cap space to make it happen.

Priority number one for the Packers is to figure out what’s next for Aaron Rodgers. Less than two days before free agency effectively begins, it’s still unclear whether Rodgers will play for the Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, another team, or retire, although a return to Green Bay seems to keep getting less likely.

But along with determining what’s next for Rodgers, the Packers also need to work out a long-term deal with Keisean Nixon.