The Green Bay Packers added an explosive and potentially prolific weapon to quarterback Jordan Love’s supporting cast this offseason.
While Green Bay largely missed the boat on a top-tier crop of wide receiver free agents that never quite developed, the Packers finally broke their streak of not selecting a wide receiver in the first round when former University of Texas standout Matthew Golden pulled on a green and gold jersey in the shadow of Lambeau Field this spring.
With a reshuffled offensive line in front of him, and a couple of potential playmaking wide receivers added to his supporting cast, Love and the Packers’ offense could be primed to take a major step this season.
Packers’ Matthew Golden Addition Heralded as One of NFL’s Best
Golden has the speed and traits to be a true difference-maker for the Packers’ passing game.
Over at Pro Football Focus, Dalton Wasserman put together a list of every NFC team’s best move of the offseason, including the Packers drafting Golden in Round 1.
“The Packers selected a wide receiver, Matthew Golden,” Wasserman writes for PFF. “In the first round of the draft for the first time since 2002. Among the players available, Golden made the most sense as the vertical threat the team was missing.
“The Texas speedster earned a near-perfect 99.6 deep PFF receiving grade during his breakout season in 2024. While that skillset is helpful, Golden should also be able to threaten safeties enough for Jordan Love to more effectively attack the intermediate range, where he ranked 35th in PFF passing grade last season.”
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Selecting Golden didn’t just bust a two-decade streak of not prioritizing a wide receiver in the NFL Draft, but injects game-altering speed into a passing game that is in dire need of consistent playmakers.
Last season, Golden caught 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns, while averaging an electrifying 17 yards per reception. If Golden’s speed and reliable hands translate to the NFL level, he’ll go a long way towards living up to his billing as one of the most vital additions by any team across the league this offseason.
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