Green Bay Packers select Matthew Golden in first round of 2025 NFL Draft

Matthew Golden spent just one season at Texas but his time in Austin has paid off. Golden was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft as the No. 23 overall pick. A big-time receiver is heading to Green Bay, giving quarterback Jordan Love a brand-new weapon.

Like many in this year’s cycle, Golden is a three-year college player. Two different schools were considered home at different points, though. Houston won his high school recruitment. One where he was a four-star prospect and No. 176 overall player out of Houston (TX) Klein Cain in the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Texas came calling ahead of the 2024 season when Steve Sarkisian was in search of two new big-time receivers. The move worked out nicely for both sides. Golden set career highs across the board, catching 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns.

His number was called more and more down the stretch, too. The College Football Playoff quarterfinal against Arizona State was Golden’s best game, going for 149 yards and a touchdown on seven receptions.

Taking Golden this high in the draft means he projects as a potential WR1. He showed the ability to adapt to a new environment and find success once he had settled in. Doing so at the next level will be a different kind of test but Golden appears ready for whatever is thrown his way.

What NFL Draft analysts are saying about Matthew Golden

Ahead of the draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein broke down Golden and gave a detailed scouting report on the Texas wide receiver. He even provided a few comparisons, saying Golden reminded him of Chris Olave.

“Golden works all three levels of the field with similar consistency and productivity,” Zierlein said. “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 future.