The Green Bay Packers went into this offseason with a major need to fill, and despite largely avoiding the problem during free agency wound up making a potentially major upgrade during the 2025 NFL Draft.
Green Bay’s wide receiving corps wasn’t just besiged by injuries last season, but even when quarterback Jordan Love’s top pass catchers were healthy and on the field, the Packers lacked a true top of the depth chart difference maker.
Enter, former University of Texas standout Matthew Golden as the Packers’ first-round pick in April’s 2025 NFL Draft.
Golden lands in Green Bay on the heels of setting career highs with 58 catches for 987 yards and nine touchdowns in his final season with the Longhorns.
Over at Pro Football Focus, Dalton Wasserman put together a list of each team’s biggest takeaway, including the impact of the Packers adding elite speed on offense.
“Green Bay entered the draft looking to inject speed into its receiving corps,” Wasserman writes for PFF. “The kind that can stretch the field, widen throwing windows and give Jordan Love more room to operate. Mission accomplished. The Packers selected two dynamic receivers in Matthew Golden and Savion Williams, both of whom bring vertical juice and versatility to the offense.
“Golden posted a near-perfect 99.6 deep receiving grade last season at Texas, showing an elite ability to win downfield. Meanwhile, Williams showcased his athleticism at TCU, averaging nearly 7.0 yards after the catch per reception and contributing as a physical presence in the run game.”
In addition to Golden’s elite deep passing grade from PFF, the six feet and 195-pound playmaker ran the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.29 seconds, fastest among receivers at the NFL Combine.
If Golden’s speed translates to being able to take the top off opposing secondaries, Love and the Packers’ offense could improve dramatically this season.
