The Green Bay Packers’ 2025 draft class was peculiar for several reasons, but the most notable was breaking a 22-year streak of not selecting a wide receiver in the first round. Mark Murphy’s announcement of the Matthew Golden selection at the podium was one of the most memorable moments of the draft, and it was fitting that such a significant milestone ended in Green Bay of all places.
“I’m ready. I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life and to be here,” Golden said after being drafted. “I’m gonna be present, but I’m gonna let my presence be known and I’m gonna come in here and compete.”
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The next step for the rookie out of Texas was finalizing and signing his first NFL contract. On Monday, Matthew Golden and the Packers finalized a four-year, fully guaranteed $17.58 million deal. That night, Golden shared a three-word message on social media to celebrate.
Matthew Golden signs autographs during the NFL Draft Red Carpet event at Lambeau Field.© Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
“Thank You God,” Golden wrote on his X account.
In a Thursday, April 24 interview on the Andy & Ari On3 show after the first day of the Draft, Golden shared how he plans to use a share of his earnings.
“I definitely want to get my grandma a house,” he said. “We lost our family property a few years back. That place is where I spent much of my childhood, and it would mean a lot to be able to give that back to my family.”
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Matthew Golden joins a Packers receiving corps that ranked third in the NFL in drops last season and will be without its top man-coverage beater, Christian Watson, until December. There are many ways Matt LaFleur can integrate Golden into the offense, and the rookie should have plenty of opportunities during training camp and the regular season to carve out a role and potentially become one of Jordan Love’s go-to targets.
Related: Packers Position Coach Shares Striking Observation On Former First-Round Pick