Packers Hopeful on Two Key Defensive Backs

The free-agent negotiating period begins on Monday. Here is an update on where things stand with some of their 14 unrestricted free agents.

Author:
Bill Huber
Updated:
Mar 13, 2023 11:45 AM EDT
Original:
Mar 13, 2023

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Including playoffs, Adrian Amos started all 71 games during his four seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He didn’t just play in every game, he played practically every meaningful snap.

Keisean Nixon spent one season with the Packers. During the second half of the season, his explosive kick returns didn’t just change the field position. They changed the entire outlook on special teams.

With the free agent negotiating period starting at 11 a.m. Central on Monday, a source said the Packers would like both players back and are working to make it happen, but they are expected to hit the open market.

After three consecutive seasons of two interceptions, Amos had one in 2022 but also set career highs with 102 tackles and six tackles for losses. His 97 tackles on defense ranked second on the team. While he broke up only five passes – his fewest since 2017 – his steady play and solid tackling are things that can be taken for granted.

Amos will turn 30 next month. While that’s not exactly young, Buffalo’s Jordan Poyer is perhaps the best safety on the market and he’s set to turn 32.

This might be his last chance for a big payday so he intends to see what’s available.

Safety might be a priority in the draft, regardless, but would be an even bigger emphasis if Amos were to sign with another team. The depth is precarious, at best, with Rudy Ford and Dallin Leavitt also scheduled to hit free agency. Darnell Savage, who lost his starting position at one point, and the unproven group of Tariq Carpenter, Innis Gaines and James Wiggins are the only other players under contract.

Few players in the league changed their career trajectory more than Nixon, who signed a one-year, minimum-salary contract with the Packers. He played well on defense early in the season, including in relief of Jaire Alexander and Tampa Bay, but where he became an unexpected star was on special teams.

Nixon hadn’t returned kicks since junior college but earned first-team All-Pro honors with a 28.8-yard average on kickoff returns. His five returns of 50-plus yards led the NFL. The barrage of big plays included a 93-yarder vs. Miami in Week 16 and a 105-yard touchdown vs. Minnesota in Week 17. On punt returns, he rarely fielded the ball on the fly but still averaged a robust 12.7 yards per runback.

The Packers might be included to see what Nixon is being offered by other teams. He will have a strong market.

Veteran defensive tackle Dean Lowry, who played 101 consecutive games for the Packers until he spent the final couple games on injured reserve, and tight end Robert Tonyan, who finished third on the team in catches following 2021’s ACL tear, are among at least a few players who are in a holding pattern.

They will test the market, but the Packers seem content to bide their time. The uncertainty at quarterback is impacting business because the team doesn’t know how much cap space it will have until it knows if he’s playing for the Packers, being traded or retiring.

The Packers aren't totally hand-cuffed, though, with ample cap space to make at least some moves regardless of what Rodgers chooses.

Green Bay Packers Free Agency Preview

The Green Bay Packers have about $24 million of cap space to open free agency.

14 Unrestricted Free Agents

The Packers have 14 players who will be unrestricted free agents. Taken individually, there might not be a must-sign player on the list. In totality, though, it is a solid group.

Led by Adrian Amos and Marcedes Lewis with 17 starts apiece, those 14 players combined to start 91 games. Allen Lazard led the team in receptions and Robert Tonyan was third. Adrian Amos was second in tackles and Jarran Reed was second in quarterback hits. Dallin Leavitt and Eric Wilson tied for the team lead in special teams tackles. Keisean Nixon was the only first-team All-Pro. Amos and Lewis were permanent team captains. Mason Crosby is the leading scorer in franchise history.

Here are those players, with links to their individual stories.

Stay or Go: Adrian Amos

Stay or Go: Corey Ballentine

Stay of Go: Randall Cobb

Stay or Go: Mason Crosby

Stay or Go: Rudy Ford

Stay or Go: Justin Hollins

Stay of Go: Allen Lazard

Stay or Go: Dallin Leavitt

Stay or Go: Marcedes Lewis

Stay or Go: Dean Lowry

Stay or Go: Keisean Nixon

Stay or Go: Jarran Reed

Stay or Go: Robert Tonyan

Stay or Go: Eric Wilson

Four Biggest Decisions

Defensive line: Jarran Reed provide some strong pass rush and Dean Lowry has been steady for years. Combined, they played 1,187 defensive snaps in 2022. With Devonte Wyatt and TJ Slaton elevated up the too-early depth chart, the new Nos. 4 and 5 – Jonathan Ford and Chris Slayton – played zero snaps.

Safeties: It’s a similar story here. In his four seasons, Adrian Amos has started every game. Rudy Ford started six games and had three interceptions. Ford and Dallin Leavitt were standouts on an improved special teams. If they all leave, all that’s left are Darnell Savage, Tariq Carpenter, Innis Gaines and James Wiggins.

Receiver: Allen Lazard is expected to earn a contract worth in excess of $10 million per season. Randall Cobb’s better days are behind him. But the Packers would be incredibly young if they both leave. The five receivers under contract include four 2022 rookies – Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Samori Toure and Bo Melton – and a practice-squad holdover.

“I’d love to have a veteran presence,” Gutekunst said. “It’s just another guy in the room that those guys can bounce things off of and bring to the table. Whether that will happen or not, we’ll see, but I think that experience – as excited as I am about those young guys, having a guy with the kind of experience that has seen things, none of those guys got to play in a playoff game, right?

“It’d be nice to have a guy that can continue to help move those guys along as well as a veteran presence out there. I think that’s important.”

Keisean Nixon: Nixon was one of the great signings made by any team last offseason. He provided quality snaps on defense initially before bursting onto the scene as the NFL’s most dangerous kickoff returner. It will be fascinating to see his next contract. You could argue he’s Green Bay’s most important free agent. On the other hand, how much money is too much money for a player who might not get his hands on the ball some weeks?

Don’t Forget Restricted Free Agents

The Packers also have three restricted free agents: offensive tackle Yosh Nijman, former starting linebacker Krys Barnes and tight end Tyler Davis.

A restricted free agent is a player with three years of NFL experience. There are three tender levels: first round is $6.005 million, second round is $4.304 million and right of first refusal is $2.627 million.

If the Packers give Nijman a second-round tender, which is the expectation, they’ll have to pay him that $4.304 million. However, a team that wants Nijman can offer him a contract. The Packers can match that offer and keep Nijman. Or, they can let him go and collect a second-round draft pick.

The Packers probably will not tender Davis and Barnes so they would become unrestricted free agents.

The deadline to tender those players is 3 p.m. Wednesday.

A Reminder

The big fish in the free agent sea will get all the headlines the next few days but smart teams make smart signings. While Green Bay went only 8-9 last year, Gutekunst hit it big with four of his budget moves: defensive tackle Jarran Reed and cornerback/returner Keisean Nixon in the secondary waves of free agency along with safety Dallin Leavitt before training camp and safety Rudy Ford after final cuts.

“I give Richmond Williams and the pro staff and John Wojciechowski such credit of staying on top of it,” Gutekunst said. “It’s something we’re afforded in Green Bay and, just the way we go about it with our process is that these are things are things we talk about every day. And just staying after it and understanding that the timing will be right when it’s right.

“I think a lot of it, too, is the opportunity that they’re given here. When we bring a guy in late Matt and his staff, I give them a lot of credit for allowing these guys the opportunity that they do. Sometimes when you bring guys in late, it’s very hard for coaches to find that opportunity, and Matt (LaFleur) and his staff have done a nice job of incorporating those guys into what we’re doing.”