“With the 2025 draft taking place in Green Bay, the Packers finally scratched a 23-year itch, spending a first-round pick on a wide receiver for the first time since they took Javon Walker back in 2002. Outgoing team president Mark Murphy announced the selection in the shadow of Lambeau Field, working Packer backers into a frenzy by appropriately milking the moment, and Matthew Golden immediately appeared on stage to soak it all up. It was a special scene. In hindsight, that feels like the highlight of the wideout’s first year with the Pack. OK, Golden did finish the season on a high note, catching four passes for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown in Green Bay’s Wild Card Weekend loss at Chicago. But he was mostly lost in the shuffle of the Packers’ crowded receiver room, especially in the second half of the season, with veterans returning from injury and Golden experiencing some health issues of his own. In Weeks 8 through 18, the rookie caught a grand total of 11 passes for 112 yards. Green Bay’s second-round pick, Anthony Belton, actually provided more of an impact — starting at right guard from Thanksgiving on — but his performance was far from pristine.”
