Matthew Golden in preseason action vs. the Jets. (Photo: Getty)

 

By Mark Eckel 

If you compare what Matthew Golden did his rookie season with what the two other wide receivers taken in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft did, you would be disappointed. 

Golden, the Green Bay Packers first-round selection, did not measure up with Carolina’s Tet McMillian, the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year, or Tampa Bay’s Emeka Egbuka as far as numbers go.

When you compare Golden with the Packers last nine wide receivers taken in either the first or second rounds going all the way back to 1996, he fits in perfectly. 

Golden, who was hindered by a shoulder injury, caught 29 passes for 361 yards, an average of 12.4 yards per catch during his rookie season. His best game came in the playoffs when he caught for passes for 84 yards and his first NFL touchdown in the wild-card loss to Chicago. 

So how does that rank among early Packers picks? He was right in the middle. If you ranked the rookie performances from 1-to-10; Golden would be No. 5. 

Here’s what the other nine did and then what they did their second year.  

Jayden Reed, 2nd round, 2023

Reed had an exceptional rookie season with 64 catches for 793 yards and eight touchdowns. That was the most catches, yards and touchdowns of any of the other eight rookies.  

He followed that with a 55-857-6 season his sophomore year. 

Christian Watson, 2nd round, 2022

Watson, after a slow start, finished with 41 receptions, 611 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie. He played in just nine games his second year and went 28-422-5.

Davante Adams, 2nd round, 2014

Adams caught 38 passes for 416 yards and three touchdowns in a modest rookie season. He battled an ankle injury and went to 50-483-1 his second year before breaking out in his third season (75-997-12).

Randall Cobb, 2nd round, 2011 

Cobb had a very Golden-like rookie season with 25 catches for 375 yards and a touchdown. Golden would love to have a Cobb-like second season with 80-954-8.

Jordy Nelson, 2nd round, 2008

Nelson wasn’t any better than Golden as a rookie, either. The Packers first pick of the ’08 draft (after they traded out of the first round) caught 33 passes for 306 yards and two touchdowns. 

His second year was less productive with 22 catches, 320 and two more TDs. Nelson didn’t emerge until year four when he went over 1,200 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. 

Greg Jennings, 2nd round, 2006

Jennings ranks second on the list behind Reed with a 45-632-3 rookie season. He topped that his second year with a 53-930-12 season. 

Javon Walker, 1st round, 2002 

Walker, the last first-round pick before Golden, did nt have great production as a rookie with 23 coaches for 319 yards and a touchdown. He was better his second year (41-716-9) and took off his third year (89-1,382-12).

Robert Ferguson, 2nd round, 2001 

Ferguson missed all but one game his rookie year with injury and had an unimpressive second year (22-293-3). His best season of a somewhat undistinguished career was his third year (38-520-4).

Derrick Mayes, 2nd round, 1996 

Mayes played in just seven games as a rookie and caught just six passes for 46 yards, although two of those catches were touchdowns. His second year saw him catch 18 passes for 290 yards and no touchdowns.

The only good season of the five he played was in year four with Seattle when he went 62-829-10 for the Seahawks and Mike Holmgren.

 

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