Matthew Golden has amazing NFL Draft moment after Green Bay ends first-round WR drought

Daniel Mader

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Matthew Golden has amazing NFL Draft moment after Green Bay ends first-round WR drought image

Jordan Love is getting another weapon.

The Packers drafted WR Matthew Golden out of Texas with the No. 23 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night, and the speedy Longhorns star was there to soak in the moment.

Golden becomes the first receiver selected by Green Bay in the first round in decades. The home fans clearly appreciated the move, giving him the biggest ovation of the night.

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Here's how long it's been since the Packers drafted a receiver in the first round, how the Green Bay crowd reacted, and how Golden will fit in with his new team.

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Who was the last Packers' first-round WR in NFL Draft?

Green Bay went with a wide receiver at pick No. 23 despite reportedly considering trading the pick to the Eagles, per Jordan Schultz.

Giving Love a new weapon, the Packers selected Golden, who totaled 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns for Texas in 2024. Now, he'll join a deep Packers wide receiver room that could use a standout No. 1 option despite a collection of talent.

Golden was the first wide receiver drafted by the Packers in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002, a 23-year gap between first-round receivers, the longest in the league.

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Matthew Golden draft reaction

Being selected by the team hosting the NFL Draft, Golden got to meet his new fanbase in person. Packers fans erupted at the pick.

Wearing his sunglasses and a black-and-yellow suit, Golden took the stage to loud chants of "Go Pack Go!" with thousands of fans in attendance.

Packers WR depth chart

Here's a look at where Golden could slot in among Packers wide receivers:

RankPlayer
1Jayden Reed
2Matthew Golden
3Romeo Doubs
4Christian Watson (injured)
5Dontayvion Wicks
6Mecole Hardman

Reed led the way for Green Bay with his 75 targets and 55 receptions in 2024, making him the likely WR1 despite the addition of Golden. However, given the Packers using their top draft capital on the Texas receiver, he could certainly contend for the top target share. 

Christian Watson will come into the 2025 season injured, having torn his ACL late in 2024. Fortunately for Green Bay, it has plenty of depth, as both Doubs and Wicks had over 400 receiving yards last season.

Hardman, meanwhile, was signed by the Packers earlier in the offseason and will provide veteran experience and speed.

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Daniel Mader

Daniel Mader joined Sporting News as an editorial intern in 2024 following his graduation from Penn State University. Previously, he covered Penn State, high school and local sports beats for NBC Sports, the Centre Daily Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Daily Collegian and LancasterOnline. He grew up in Lancaster, Penn., with a love for baseball that’ll never fade, but could also talk basketball or football for days.