The 2025 NFL Draft is very deep at wide receiver, and Michael Golden is one of the better ones. The 5-11, 191-pound star was a four-star recruit out of high school and originally signed with the Houston Cougars. In two seasons, he caught 76 passes for 988 yards and 13 touchdowns and made the All-Big 12 as a kick returner in 2023.
Transferring to Texas for the 2024 season, Golden led the Longhorns with 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, and had a gaudy 17 YPC. Two of his best games were in postseason. Golden lit Georgia up for 162 receiving yards in an overtime loss in the SEC Championship Game before torching Arizona State for 149 yards and a touchdown in the CFP quarterfinal win.
Then he ran a scorching 4.29 in the 40-yard dash, making him the fastest wide receiver at the NFL Combine.
Which Two Teams Are Targeting Golden?
Golden is capable of playing the slot or wide, so any team that grabs him will be getting a useful speedster who’s adept at stretching the field and will be a vertical threat from day one. While not huge, he has great body control and can win the battle at the catch point. He’s got decent spatial awareness, but he may need to be put in motion to really unlock his skills at the pro level.
PFSN has Golden landing with two possible teams: the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions.
Landing Spot 1: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys have an immediate need at receiver. Brandin Cooks is out, leaving CeeDee Lamb as the only premium pass-catching option for quarterback Dak Prescott. Even with Cooks, the Cowboys still didn’t have a true complement to Lamb.
Lamb got 152 targets in 2025, which is almost double the 86 targets tight end Jake Ferguson got. Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert tallied 79 targets, but he’s not as dynamic as the rookie who could be coming in.
Golden’s speed is the most obvious selling point, but his athleticism and ability to get separation at the point of attack are even more valuable. He’s got great feet and makes unreal catches, so with more coaching and polish, he could be the number two the Cowboys need.
Landing Spot 2: Detroit Lions
This is nothing like the Matt Millen drafts when the Lions were taking a wide receiver in the first round year after year. This is a team that has superstars like Aidan Hutchinson due for big raises in the near future. That means that Jameson Williams could be a cap casualty.
Golden would pay immediate dividends, giving the Lions another speedy weapon while also giving them an affordable player who can take over as the Lions’ deep threat for the long haul.
Regardless, any team that drafts Golden is going to be getting a legitimate deep threat that can potentially contribute from day one.
