Bedlam broke out in the crowd at the draft in Green Bay when Mark Murphy announced the pick in April.
With the 23rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the 13-time World Champion Green Bay Packers … for the first time since 2002 … draft a wide receiver! Matthew Golden! Wide receiver, Texas!
As it turns out, it’s been the most exciting Golden moment so far this year, because the Packers continue to do an incredible job of ignoring and not using their first-round pick.
Golden hasn’t been performing poorly, far from it. Coming out of training camp, the Packers were already marveling at his reliable hands and playmaking ability. Per an ESPN report in August:
People inside the Packers aren’t quiet about their impressions of first-round receiver Matthew Golden, who has looked the part thus far. Two things that have stood out: his hands (he’s not a body-catcher) and his determination to be great. One person with the team pointed out that he hadn’t dropped a pass through the first week-plus of camp, and he connected on a 60-yard deep ball in 11-man earlier in the week.
Fast forward to December, when Christian Watson missed nearly the entire first half, and Jayden Reed was injured in Week 2 and didn’t return until Week 14; they still aren’t using Golden!
Golden saw just three targets and had one reception against the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday night. This was in a game where Dontayvion Wicks exited early due to a concussion and didn’t return. Green Bay still couldn’t find ways to involve the rookie. It’s par for the course for Golden.
It’d be one thing if Golden were struggling with the yips or just not executing his routes. He’s seemingly doing everything that is asked of him. Yet somehow, some way, Matt LaFleur is treating Golden like a practice squad addition.
LaFleur shot back at reporters following a win over the Cincinnati Bengals in October when he was asked why Golden isn’t more involved in the game plan.
It is what it is, guys. I know everybody wants us to force-feed guys the ball, but that’s really not how we’ve done it around here, and I don’t plan on changing that. That’s the beauty of having a lot of guys we have a lot of confidence in.
Nobody is demanding the Packers force-feed Golden. However, fans are clamoring for a rookie who clearly has abundant talent not to be a cardio collector every single week.
Tucker Kraft has 32 receptions on 44 targets this year. Golden has 28 receptions and 41 targets. Kraft hasn’t played since November 2 when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury against the Carolina Panthers. Heck, running back Josh Jacobs even has more targets (44) and receptions (36) than the rookie from Texas.
The degree to which Green Bay has brushed aside Golden is almost unfathomable. He played 53% of the snaps on offense against Baltimore, yet had just one reception. The 53% of the snaps played was Golden’s most since Week 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, when he played 66% of the snaps and had three targets for three receptions for four yards. Maybe it’s time to put away the jet-motion pop passes with Golden and use him vertically.
Using him in any capacity would be an upgrade.
Golden had as many targets against the Ravens (three) as converted wide-receiver-to-cornerback Bo Melton. It was Melton who had a critical drop ricochet off his hands on a pass from Clayton Tune that landed in the lap of a Ravens defender for an interception.
Speaking of drops, Golden has none of those this year, per PFF.
After having three receptions for 55 yards against the Denver Broncos a couple of weeks back, LaFleur commended Golden’s play and threw in a line that never held any weight, given how the games have transpired since.
“It’s was great to have him out there,” he said. “He made a huge impact… He showcased what he can do. We need to find ways to increase those (opportunities).”
Golden is not a bust, despite what trolls will say online. Golden has not performed poorly. Green Bay has mismanaged the draft pick-up to this point. Yes, the Packers typically bring along rookie wide receivers and tight ends slowly. What they’ve done with Golden is next-level, though. It’s unjustifiable.
The wide receiver room has been banged up plenty throughout the year. Golden was seldom used then. The offense has needed spark plays — the type that Golden excels at — in some critical moments. Still, no Golden.
It’s been a disappointing rookie campaign, and almost all of it can be blamed on the Packers choosing to ignore what appears to be a gem of a player.
