Matthew Golden | Wide Receiver | Texas | 5'11" - 193 lbs.

Overview
Golden works all three levels of the field with similar consistency and productivity. His route-running needs refinement, but he does a decent job of altering tempo and separating at break points. Golden has the ability to play all three receiver spots. He also has the agility and body control to turn near-misses into highlight catches. Focus drops still pepper his play, but he’s a willing participant in traffic and took command of contested catches with better physicality and catch strength in 2024. Golden’s starting-level traits and big leap forward as a go-to playmaker have him primed to become a productive catch-maker with the potential to develop into a WR1 in the future.

Strengths

• Meets the moment with big plays in big games.
• Adequate linear speed to work past corners on vertical routes.
• Agile feet allow quicker gather-and-cut as a route runner.
• Good alteration of route tempo in intermediate work.
• Shows ability to sink, slow and open quickly from hard vertical push.
• Twitchy pluck-and-tuck protects the catch through contact.
• Displays body control and focus for highlight reel adjustments and grabs.
• Big-play kick return talent with two touchdowns as a sophomore at Houston.

Weaknesses

• Routes can be too nonchalant and unfocused.
• Takes foot off the gas if he feels like the route is covered.
• Pops upright into route breaks, providing coverage a tell.
• Needs to play stronger at the top of the route.
• Inconsistent working back on throws to protect catch-point.
• Poor hand timing causes focus drops underneath.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZh4lIld6Jc

I'm shocked

I just dont get it. He is pretty much Reed 2.0. We have young WR's. We need a pass rusher, DL and OL help before WR. Simmons and Green were there....

bboystyle;469107I just dont get it. He is pretty much Reed 2.0. We have young WR's. We need a pass rusher, DL and OL help before WR. Simmons and Green were there....

Packers do not have many WR under contract beyond 2025. This is how they draft. They do not draft for what is perceived as a need right now. Draft is for the future. We'll see if this works out.

Zero2Cool;469108Packers do not have many WR under contract beyond 2025. This is how they draft. They do not draft for what is perceived as a need right now. Draft is for the future. We'll see if this works out.

Its a dumb pick. Just my opinion. GB proccess clearly doesnt work so. First round should be an immediate need and a starter. Then u have the other round to play with for future positions and depth. This is why GB will forever suck drafting in the 1st round. No knock on Golden but he isnt anything special. Its another wasted 1st round pick. Keep track of Mike Green to see what we could of had.

bboystyle;469107I just dont get it. He is pretty much Reed 2.0. We have young WR's. We need a pass rusher, DL and OL help before WR. Simmons and Green were there....

I would've preferred a cornerback.
But objectively,we really don't have reliability at the wide receiver position other than Reed. Watson is hurt, Doubs is one more concussion away from being a vegetable, Wicks has drops. Milton is a three or four at best. and given that he was, depending on how you count it, the number two or three receiver on the board, it is a good pick... what time will tell.

bboystyle;469109Its a dumb pick. Just my opinion. GB proccess clearly doesnt work so. First round should be an immediate need and a starter. Then u have the other round to play with for future positions and depth. This is why GB will forever suck drafting in the 1st round. No knock on Golden but he isnt anything special. Its another wasted 1st round pick. Keep track of Mike Green to see what we could of had.

WR was both a short and long-term need, with Watson being back at what, midseason at best? Like Kevin said, they only have 2 WRs signed in 2026 (Reed and Wicks), now they have 3. The only thing that's a little surprising about this pick to me is his size. But with that speed, it makes more sense, especially with Watson being out.

Packers run 11 personnel 2/3rds of the time, which means they effectively have 3 starting WRs. Golden should be able to push Wicks and Melton for snaps as a rookie at a minimum. It's not like he's gonna spend the year on the bench. Also, 4 WR sets with Doubs and Wicks outside and Reed and Golden inside? Sign me up man.

Probably means Hardman doesn't make the team, too, given that Golden is basically the same guy but 6 years younger.

bboystyle;469107I just dont get it. He is pretty much Reed 2.0. We have young WR's. We need a pass rusher, DL and OL help before WR. Simmons and Green were there....

I strongly disagree... Reed is pretty much used as a slot WR only type.

Golden will be used on the outside a lot more.
If Golden is replacing anyone, it's an outside WR.

My biggest concern is, we got a deep ball WR... but do we have a deep ball QB?

wpr;469106I'm shocked

As am I. It's become so routine for GB to not draft a WR even with how the teams needs were shaping up I figured after the Steelers nabbed Harmon I thought "Well they'll probably draft a CB or an EDGE and call it a night." And that was after I opined in chat that it felt like if there was a year for them to WR in the 1st it would be this one. And yet I was still very surprised to see them take one when I checked my phone on break at work.

earthquake;469111Packers run 11 personnel 2/3rds of the time, which means they effectively have 3 starting WRs. Golden should be able to push Wicks and Melton for snaps as a rookie at a minimum. It's not like he's gonna spend the year on the bench. Also, 4 WR sets with Doubs and Wicks outside and Reed and Golden inside? Sign me up man.

Do they really run 4 WR sets much outside of hurry up/gotta get back in the game situations?

As for Golden, he seems like a smaller, less athletic version of Watson which sounds like a back handed compliment until you realize that Watson has plenty of athleticism to spare and Golden is better at route running. I might be mistaken but it feels like Watson hasn't improved his route running much since being drafted. I think what the Packers really like and want from Golden is his ability to win and win fast off the line of scrimmage.

bboystyle;469109Its a dumb pick. Just my opinion. GB proccess clearly doesnt work so. First round should be an immediate need and a starter. Then u have the other round to play with for future positions and depth. This is why GB will forever suck drafting in the 1st round. No knock on Golden but he isnt anything special. Its another wasted 1st round pick. Keep track of Mike Green to see what we could of had.

We don't have a billionaire owner that can bail us out financially. So, this is a good process. And it's worked. Do we need to take a risk here and there? Yes!!

Also, I agree about first round. I'd rather us trade back for multiple day two picks.

I like this pick though. I had a feeling of that Ohio State kid or Golden were at 23 that's where we'd go. We wanted WR on 2020 and we tried moving into first to get Watson. They aren't afraid of WR in round one. It just hasn't fallen that way. The CB available are concerning to me.