The Green Bay Packers have finally addressed their struggles at receiver as they aim to become Super Bowl contenders in 2025. With the No. 23 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Packers selected Texas wideout Matthew Golden, giving QB Jordan Love a true No. 1 target for the first time in his young career.
Green Bay Packers Wide Receiver Depth Chart
The Packers clearly lacked a top guy for Love in 2024. None of their receivers topped 1,000 yards, and the passing game never quite hit its ceiling. Golden hasn’t had a 1,000-yard season in college either, but the upside is there. His speed and route-running potential are a big reason why Green Bay broke its 20-year streak of not drafting a wideout in the first round.
No trade: The #Packers stick at No. 23 and take #Texas WR Matthew Golden, the speedster.
A rare WR for Green Bay in the first round. Never though I'd see it! The crowd reaction was wild.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
At 5’11”, 191 pounds, Golden ran a blazing 4.29-second time in the 40-yard dash. While many label him a speed receiver, he’s more than that. He wins with twitchy movement, crisp routes, and smooth body control at the catch point.
Golden’s full route tree, elite separation, and run-after-catch ability give the Packers a complete weapon. He headlines a deep receiver room that includes Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Mecole Hardman Jr., Dontayvion Wicks, Lideatrick Griffin, Bo Melton, Cornelius Johnson, Malik Heath, Julian Hicks, and Christian Watson.
Who Is Jayden Reed?
Reed was the most productive receiver for the Packers in 2024, logging 55 receptions for 857 yards and six touchdowns. He was picked 50th overall by Green Bay in the 2023 NFL Draft and posted 64 receptions for 793 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie.
Reed should start alongside Golden in 2025, with either Watson or Doubs rounding out the top three.
Who Is Romeo Doubs?
A year senior of Reed, Doubs was picked 132nd overall by the Packers in the 2022 NFL Draft. He came off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for Nevada but only managed 42 receptions for 425 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie.
Doubs improved to 674 yards and eight touchdowns on 59 receptions in 2023. Last season, he posted 46 receptions for 601 yards and four touchdowns.
Who Is Christian Watson?
Watson is another young receiver on the Packers roster and is from the same class as Doubs. He was picked 34th overall and racked up 41 receptions for 611 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie.
His numbers dipped in 2023 but rebounded in 2024 with 620 yards and two touchdowns on just 29 catches, good for a strong yards-per-catch mark.
Who Is Mecole Hardman Jr.?
Hardman is a former second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs from the 2019 NFL Draft. He spent 5.5 seasons with the Chiefs and half a season with the New York Jets in 2023 before arriving in Green Bay this offseason.
Hardman was impressive under his rookie deal but has since witnessed a sharp decline, both in production and targets. He has logged 178 receptions for 2,302 yards and 16 touchdowns in his pro career so far.
Who Is Dontayvion Wicks?
Wicks was a fifth-rounder in 2023 and has flashed early in his career. He’s posted 996 receiving yards and nine touchdowns across two seasons in Green Bay.
Who Is Lideatrick Griffin?
Griffin went undrafted in 2024 and initially signed with the Las Vegas Raiders. After short stints with Las Vegas and Cleveland, the Packers added him on a reserve deal this offseason.
Who Is Bo Melton?
Melton was a seventh-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. After some time on the practice squad, he landed in Green Bay, where he’s caught 24 passes for 309 yards and one touchdown so far.
Who Is Cornelius Johnson?
Johnson had an impressive collegiate career for the Michigan Wolverines and was picked in the seventh round by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022. He was, however, waived shortly after and signed with Green Bay’s practice squad last year. He is on a reserve contract in 2025.
Who Is Malik Heath?
Heath was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and immediately made the 53-man roster. Over two seasons, he’s logged 25 catches for 222 yards and three touchdowns.
Who Is Julian Hicks?
Hicks starred at the University at Albany, putting up 1,139 yards and 17 touchdowns across two seasons. The Packers signed him in January 2025 as a UDFA.
