The Green Bay Packers emerged from the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft with a potentially game-altering weapon in tow to help elevate quarterback Jordan Love and the offense, choosing wide receiver Matthew Golden with the No. 23 overall pick.
Golden, six-feet and 195 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.29 seconds during the NFL Combine, on the heels of a stellar 58-catch for 987-yard and nine-touchdown 2024 season for the Longhorns, underscoring the impact his speed can make on an offense.
While some inside the league suggest Golden might be “faster than he is skilled,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst is far more optimistic.
“The one thing as we scouted him, he’s a third-year junior coming out, he’s a young guy, and his best football is ahead of him. He’s still got a lot of room for growth. He’s not at his ceiling,” Gutekunst told reporters Thursday night.
Given Christian Watson’s uncertain availability, combined with the Packers’ dire need for a playmaker at receiver, Golden’s speed and his upside could wind up being transcendent both for Love and Green Bay’s offense at large.
