The latest mock draft from Eric Edholm of NFL.com sent a blazing fast wide receiver to the Green Bay Packers in the first round. At No. 23 overall, Edholm predicted the Packers will get Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden, who ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds after producing 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns for the Longhorns in 2024.
Golden (5-11, 191) can play multiple wide receiver spots, has the vertical speed to be a dangerous deep threat and even possesses kickoff return experience. And some of his biggest performances of 2024 -- like his 162 yards and a touchdown against Georgia in the SEC title game and his 149 yards and a touchdown against Arizona State in the College Football Player quarterfinal -- came in Texas' biggest games.
Edholm believes the Packers could break their first-round drought at wide receiver by taking Golden, a pass-catcher who could charge up Green Bay's passing game and eventually give Jordan Love a go-to target.
From Edholm: "With Christian Watson recovering from a January ACL tear, the Packers might want to add another deep threat, even if Golden wasn't extensively used downfield at Texas. It's well-documented that the Packers have not drafted a receiver in Round 1 since Javon Walker in 2002, but I won't be shocked if the run ends here."
According to PFF, Golden played both outside (376 snaps) and in the slot (118 snaps) for Texas in 2024. He caught 13 passes thrown over 20 yards in the air, averaged 5.2 yards after the catch, made 11 contested catches and forced eight missed tackles. He'll be only 21 years old come the draft.
A former track athlete, Matthew Golden, could help make up for Christian Watson's absence.
— Brennen Rupp (@Brennen_Rupp) February 21, 2025
"He’s got great speed but he’s also a very precise route runner which makes him tough to defend.” @jhickey24
Check out my latest on the Texas WR.
UFP: No. 64 https://t.co/LPHeGmNxOXpic.twitter.com/2q10TahuSC
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared Golden to New Orleans Saints receiver Chris Olave, the 11th overall pick in the 2022 draft who became an instant impact player in the NFL.
From Zierlein: "Golden works all three levels of the field with similar consistency and productivity. His route-running needs refinement, but he does a decent job of altering tempo and separating at break points. Golden has the ability to play all three receiver spots. He also has the agility and body control to turn near-misses into highlight catches. Focus drops still pepper his play, but he’s a willing participant in traffic and took command of contested catches with better physicality and catch strength in 2024. Golden’s starting-level traits and big leap forward as a go-to playmaker have him primed to become a productive catch-maker with the potential to develop into a WR1 in the ...
