The Green Bay Packers got off to a really strong start at the 2025 NFL Draft, landing Matthew Golden at No. 23 overall. He was the top wide receiver prospect on some big boards, so getting him on the back end of Round 1 was a steal.
The Packers followed by adding another wide receiver, Savion Williams, in the third round, making their wide receiver room crowded with young talent. Alongside Golden and Williams, the Packers’ notable draft additions included Anthony Belton and Barryn Sorrell, but it’s the former Texas wideout who’s emerging as the most exciting rookie to watch in Green Bay’s minicamp.
Matthew Golden Named Packers’ Top Rookie To Watch In Minicamp
Golden is the first wide receiver the Packers have taken in the first round since 2002. He reflects the Packers’ desire to surround quarterback Jordan Love with powerful weapons.
Golden joined a dynamic offense in Green Bay that ranked fifth in total yards (6,304) and eighth in PPG (27.1). He has big-play ability and big-time speed, recording a 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, the fastest among all players.
The 21-year-old has impressed through the rookie minicamp and OTAs so far, with Romeo Doubs calling him a “stud,” while Bill Huber of Packers Central named him his “player of the day” after the rookie caught at least six passes during live team periods on Thursday, June 5.
Jordan Love to Matthew Golden pic.twitter.com/1seHhfnmTM
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) May 28, 2025
The excitement around Golden keeps building as PFSN’s Brandon Austin named him the top rookie to watch at the Packers’ minicamp.
“The Packers’ wide receiver room didn’t have a bona-fide No. 1 receiver, not to say that the group lacks talent,” Austin wrote. “Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks have all flashed. But a significant hurdle heading into the offseason was the health of Watson, who tore his ACL at the end of the 2024 season and is anticipated to miss a considerable portion of the 2025 season.
“Golden’s arrival could ensure that Green Bay’s offense doesn’t miss a beat while offering the potential for more. He has the tools to develop into a No. 1 option for Jordan Love. At 5’11”, 191 pounds, Golden’s 4.29 40-yard dash has caused many to bill him as a speed WR primarily, but that’s a misconception.
“He certainly has high-end speed, but he wins with his fluid and twitched-up mobility as a separator, and his liquid-smooth skills at the catchpoint.”
As Austin noted further, Golden is as explosive as they come and has a chance to become a legitimate impact playmaker early on for the Packers. The first real test of his explosiveness is at the minicamp, and he would hope to continue showcasing why he is the No. 1 receiver on several big boards.