First Round Pick #23 - Matthew Golden WR - Texas

[tynimiller]

Golden is a Packer...

Not my cup of tea at the spot but I get it, despite one year of high level production, he is a premiere athlete.
4.29 Forty speed
5'11"
191 pounds

The positives of him to me are:

His explosiveness is HARD to guard period. His long speed makes it even worse for a defender.
His alignment versatility is a massive positive and likely one of the main reasons they liked him.
His route tree is above average for a rookie prospect, and that with the defender having to respect deep allows him to feast underneath likely.
His hands are solid...very very few concentration drops...but when defenders are near this dude just makes plays typically.

My concerns...
Body type...not a thick, strong guy
Catch radius is smaller
Can be pressed out of a play at times

MLF will get this cat open for sure.

 

[Sanguine camper]

Where does he fit in their offense? Is he better than Doubs or Wicks? He has speed but isn't a logical replacement for Watson at 6 ft. He wasn't even the Longhorns No 1 WR until late in the season.
Face it, it was a desperation pick. The draft looked good until the about Pick 17 and then turned sour real fast. Gute was handcuffed. I doubt he'll see the field much this season.

 

[gopkrs]

Love it. I think he is going to help every aspect of the offense. As long as we protect

 

[tynimiller]

Where does he fit in their offense? Is he better than Doubs or Wicks? He has speed but isn't a logical replacement for Watson at 6 ft. He wasn't even the Longhorns No 1 WR until late in the season.
Face it, it was a desperation pick. The draft looked good until the about Pick 17 and then turned sour real fast. Gute was handcuffed. I doubt he'll see the field much this season.

Dang I'm not a Golden pick fan there myself but I feel better about it than you.

Your question about Doubs or Wicks....honestly yes in certain aspects of his game. I like Higgins, Burden both better than Golden next on my WR board but Golden is still an undeniable Top50 prospect, consensus had him top 20 if I recall right.

The positives of him to me are:

His explosiveness is HARD to guard period. His long speed makes it even worse for a defender.
His alignment versatility is a massive positive and likely one of the main reasons they liked him.
His route tree is above average for a rookie prospect, and that with the defender having to respect deep allows him to feast underneath likely.
His hands are solid...very very few concentration drops...but when defenders are near this dude just makes plays typically.

My concerns...
Body type...not a thick, strong guy
Catch radius is smaller
Can be pressed out of a play at times

 

[Curly Calhoun]

Love it. I think he is going to help every aspect of the offense. As long as we protect

Talk about giving the people what they want.

Fast, productive, playmaker.

Go Pack Go!

 

[longtimefan]

Dang I'm not a Golden pick fan there myself but I feel better about it than you.

Your question about Doubs or Wicks....honestly yes in certain aspects of his game. I like Higgins, Burden both better than Golden next on my WR board but Golden is still an undeniable Top50 prospect, consensus had him top 20 if I recall right.

The positives of him to me are:

His explosiveness is HARD to guard period. His long speed makes it even worse for a defender.
His alignment versatility is a massive positive and likely one of the main reasons they liked him.
His route tree is above average for a rookie prospect, and that with the defender having to respect deep allows him to feast underneath likely.
His hands are solid...very very few concentration drops...but when defenders are near this dude just makes plays typically.

My concerns...
Body type...not a thick, strong guy
Catch radius is smaller
Can be pressed out of a play at times

He is always a negative Nancy if not his idea

 

[longtimefan]

When they release a certain wr Golden will take that place

 

[AmishMafia]

Dang I'm not a Golden pick fan there myself but I feel better about it than you.

Your question about Doubs or Wicks....honestly yes in certain aspects of his game. I like Higgins, Burden both better than Golden next on my WR board but Golden is still an undeniable Top50 prospect, consensus had him top 20 if I recall right.

The positives of him to me are:

His explosiveness is HARD to guard period. His long speed makes it even worse for a defender.
His alignment versatility is a massive positive and likely one of the main reasons they liked him.
His route tree is above average for a rookie prospect, and that with the defender having to respect deep allows him to feast underneath likely.
His hands are solid...very very few concentration drops...but when defenders are near this dude just makes plays typically.

My concerns...
Body type...not a thick, strong guy
Catch radius is smaller
Can be pressed out of a play at times

He also is very coordinated. He can contort his body and not break stride. He had poor QB play and if it was better his numbers would be through the roof.

I was thinking CB as the DTs I wanted were gone. Think we can still get a decent one later though.

I'm happy with the pick and Love should be ecstatic.

But I wonder if the Giants offered us the same deal they did the Texans. I would have taken that.

 

[gopkrs]

When they release a certain wr Golden will take that place

I don't want to drop anyone. I think he is going to fit in perfectly

 

[longtimefan]

Let’s see what experts say

Packers draft WR Matthew Golden: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

The Texas wide receiver posted the fastest 40-yard dash time at February's NFL Scouting Combine.

www.nytimes.com

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25188205-matthew-golden-nfl-draft-2025-scouting-report-green-bay-packers-wr

 

[longtimefan]

He also is very coordinated. He can contort his body and not break stride. He had poor QB play and if it was better his numbers would be through the roof.

I was thinking CB as the DTs I wanted were gone. Think we can still get a decent one later though.

I'm happy with the pick and Love should be ecstatic.

But I wonder if the Giants offered us the same deal they did the Texans. I would have taken that.

I put 20 on a CB pick

 

[longtimefan]

I don't want to drop anyone. I think he is going to fit in perfectly

What about Doubs

Too many concussions. I think he will be out

 

[tynimiller]

ZERO reasons to release Doubs who does nothing but produce and is rookie contract controlled.

 

[tynimiller]

Golden can be our Xavier Worthy or Devonte Smith as his top shelf...and I for one pray that's exactly what he does.

 

[PackerDNA]

Very very happy with the pic. My only question is why did it take the whole 10 minutes. Was there argument in the room about who to pick?
Were there trade offers ? This could end up being a really big time pic for this team

 

[Firethorn1001]

Very very happy with the pic. My only question is why did it take the whole 10 minutes. Was there argument in the room about who to pick?
Were there trade offers ? This could end up being a really big time pic for this team

With NYG trading up gotta believe something like that was floated to GB. I know that Murphy gave the OK for Gute to trade, but I just can't believe they would have traded out of the 1st. Any other place I bet the Packers trade out and get the extra capital.

 

[longtimefan]

ZERO reasons to release Doubs who does nothing but produce and is rookie contract controlled.

Health is a major reason

Look. This is not any insider info

But it can not be ignored he wore the special helmet and still got concussed.

This is a horrible issue . I think packers are worried . He is probably best hands wr skill we had in a while .

But his head issues can not be ignored

If he has one in camp, Golden is a replacement prospect

 

[Firethorn1001]

The only way Doubs is cut is if he can't clear medicals. Don't think they will cut him just because of any concerns.

 

[Magooch]

Very very happy with the pic. My only question is why did it take the whole 10 minutes. Was there argument in the room about who to pick?
Were there trade offers ? This could end up being a really big time pic for this team

I suspect they were also just fine with milking the clock for the home crowd. I mean Murphy took like a 5 minute speech just to give the pick lol.

 

[tynimiller]

The only way Doubs is cut is if he can't clear medicals. Don't think they will cut him just because of any concerns.

Exactly.

 

[longtimefan]

The only way Doubs is cut is if he can't clear medicals. Don't think they will cut him just because of any concerns.

Again

A concern is a concern

If he has another I expect him to be cut or retire

What about Tua ? Most people said retire . Almost same situation

Again just my opinion but if any one thinks it isn’t a concern are fooling them selves

 

[Sanguine camper]

Let’s see what experts say

Packers draft WR Matthew Golden: How he fits, pick grade and scouting intel

The Texas wide receiver posted the fastest 40-yard dash time at February's NFL Scouting Combine.

www.nytimes.com

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25188205-matthew-golden-nfl-draft-2025-scouting-report-green-bay-packers-wr

Since the Packers don't need a slot receiver, who does Golden compare to on the outside? Fast 5' 11" receivers normally play in the slot but Reed has that. There's a lot of doubt that Reed can transition to the outside. If Golden is a top prospect, why did it take him until the end of his college career to show much production? Maybe he's a late bloomer but again Gute used a first round pick on traits. That's what he did with LVN.

 

[Firethorn1001]

Again just my opinion but if any one thinks it isn’t a concern are fooling them selves

Concern and cutting because of a concern are 2 different things.

Could they trade him because of that concern or not offer a long term contract because of that? Absolutely.

 

[longtimefan]

Since the Packers don't need a slot receiver, who does Golden compare to on the outside? Fast 5' 11" receivers normally play in the slot but Reed has that. There's a lot of doubt that Reed can transition to the outside. If Golden is a top prospect, why did it take him until the end of his college career to show much production? Maybe he's a late bloomer but again Gute used a first round pick on traits. That's what he did with LVN.

Publicly pick

What would have happened if they trade down

Or a def line or lb or ol

It’s a safe pick and makes for great news

 

[tynimiller]

Since the Packers don't need a slot receiver, who does Golden compare to on the outside? Fast 5' 11" receivers normally play in the slot but Reed has that. There's a lot of doubt that Reed can transition to the outside. If Golden is a top prospect, why did it take him until the end of his college career to show much production? Maybe he's a late bloomer but again Gute used a first round pick on traits. That's what he did with LVN.

Golden's route tree on the outside is more refined than Reeds is for sure. Golden primarily has been an outside guy, but he showcased some slot savvyness inside.

Lockett feasted in the NFL outside and is shorter than Golden
Devonta Smith is insanely lighter and barely taller than Golden
Christian Kirk has feasted outside and in and is Golden's height
Garrett Wilson same size as Golden

Just the quickest ones to come to mind.