For the primary time since 2002 – three seasons earlier than Aaron Rodgers entered the NFL – the Inexperienced Bay Packers drafted a large receiver within the first spherical of an NFL Draft. Texas’ Matthew Golden was chosen No. 23 general, bringing the quickest receiver of the 2025 draft class to Inexperienced Bay.
A scarcity of dependable receivers outlined the tip of Rodgers’ Packers tenure. In his remaining season, no participant topped 800 receiving yards.
Now, some 23 years later, the Packers lastly used a first-round draft decide to safe a top-tier goal. Golden is already turning heads at coaching camp, and present beginning quarterback Jordan Love has been fast to note.
“Matthew Golden,” Love mentioned when ESPN’s Kevin Clark requested who essentially the most spectacular newcomer is on Clark’s present, That is Soccer. “He is proven up since day one and proven his play type.”
In two seasons because the Packers’ starter, Love hasn’t had a receiver surpass 900 yards. The excitement round Golden suggests he might be the one to vary that.
“He got here in actually polished and has been making performs since day one,” Love mentioned. “He is received very aggressive palms, he is a easy route-runner, (and) he is received velocity.”
These attributes have been on full show through the 2025 NFL Mix, together with the second-fastest 40-yard sprint time of 4.29 seconds. Now, they’re transitioning onto the gridiron throughout Golden’s first coaching camp with the Packers.
The Texas product was listed as a 2nd string on the group’s first official depth chart. However when a quarterback is more and more rising assured in a participant, that standing can change within the matter of weeks.
“I feel for him, it is persevering with to know the playbook and wrapping his head round the whole lot we’ve got in as a result of we’ve got a really deep system,” Love mentioned. “You possibly can see, when he is aware of what he is doing, (when) he is feeling assured, he is been enjoying lights out. He will be a stud.”
Golden entered the 2025 NFL Draft after a profession 12 months in his first season with Texas. He recorded profession highs throughout the board with 58 catches for 987 yards, a mean of 17 yards per reception, and 9 touchdowns.