TRADE DEADLINE: The Packers are bringing him back for the 2024 season.

The Packers still see the significance of having an explosive kick returner. Sure, Nixon played regularly on defense as

their nickel corner and will have the opportunity to do so again in 2024 — though new defensive coordinator Jeff

Hafley may have other plans for that position and/or for Nixon. But make no mistake: Nixon’s greatest strength is

his ability to return passes. He is the reigning two-time All-Pro returner, and he now has a chance to make it three in

a row with the same squad.

There has been talk of modifying the kickoff rule again, significantly reducing the value of that slot. If the Packers

want to try someone else in the slot corner position, they are essentially paying for a return man.

The Packers dismissed Aaron Jones and reached an agreement with former Raider Jacobs on a four-year, $48

million contract.

What this means: The Jones era has come to an end, and what a run he had as the 2017 fifth-round pick. The Packers

have now chosen Jacobs, who, at 26, is more than three years younger than Jones. However, it demonstrated that

the running game was so crucial that they were unwilling to jeopardize it by going with an unknown rookie, even if it

was a premium draft pick. Coach Matt LaFleur’s offense is built around the play-action game, thus the running back

position is too vital to leave to chance. It is most likely no coincidence that quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers’

offense were

Jacobs, like Jones, who missed six games last season due to injuries, coped with them in 2023. He missed the

Raiders’ past four games due to a quad injury. Unsurprisingly, Jacobs’ last NFL season was the least productive of his

five. He gained 805 rushing yards and averaged 3.5 yards per carry, both career lows. However, Jacobs missed only

three games over the previous three seasons, indicating that he does not have an extensive injury history. In three of

his five seasons, he carried for more than 1,000 yards, with a lifetime average of 4.2 yards per attempt.