The Denver Broncos are poised to bolster their offensive arsenal by targeting Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, aiming to provide quarterback Bo Nix with a dynamic playmaker.
Denver Could Pair Bo Nix With Texas WR Matthew Golden
In PFSN’s latest mock draft, analyst Owain Jones projects the Broncos to select Golden with the No. 20 overall pick, highlighting his exceptional route-running and separation skills.
“Matthew Golden easily creates separation, running crisp routes with his gliding movement and ability to turn direction on a dime,” Jones writes.
Golden’s collegiate career is marked by impressive production and clutch performances.
In his lone season with Texas after transferring from Houston, Golden recorded 58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns in 2024, contributing significantly to the Longhorns’ offensive success. He was clutch in the College Football Playoffs as well, hauling in the 4th-and-13 touchdown catch to beat Arizona State in overtime of the Peach Bowl.
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The big concern from analysts about Golden is his speed. The reason that Golden’s 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was so surprising is because no one saw it coming from what he has shown on tape.
That can be viewed one of two ways: he has higher top-end speed than you were expecting, or, you can view it from the prism of, “well, if he is that fast, why isn’t he running away from defenders on the field?”
Neither perspective is necessarily right or wrong. That’s what is so appealing about Golden as a prospect: he brings a technical approach to the position in a way that his game isn’t predicated on speed. What he lacks in explosivity, he more than makes up for in other areas.
Jones sums it up best in his analysis of Golden, writing, “The Texas wide receiver doesn’t exactly translate his 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine into on-field speed. However, he has controlled pacing, clean hands, and incredible body control.”
For the Broncos, adding a receiver of Golden’s caliber could be transformative. Nix showed promise in his rookie season, and providing him with a reliable target like Golden, to pair with Courtland Sutton, could accelerate his development and elevate Denver’s passing attack.
With Sutton’s long-term future still uncertain and Troy Franklin coming off a lackluster rookie season, the Broncos are in clear need of a reliable go-to option for their young quarterback. While Golden may not be the flashiest name in this draft class, his polish, production, and poise under pressure make him a plug-and-play weapon with significant upside.
If Denver believes Bo Nix is their quarterback of the future, adding a savvy, dependable wideout like Golden could be the exact move needed to lay the foundation for long-term success. If Golden can continue to win with his technique — while tapping into that verified 4.29 speed — the Broncos might find themselves with one of the draft’s biggest steals.