![\"NFL](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1751244671_287_960x0.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Green Bay Packers are expecting big things from rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden this season.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved<\/p>\n
The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way.<\/p>\n
Overall, though, no one in the building was happy.<\/p>\n
The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cI think it\u2019s time we started competing for championships.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those are fair expectations.<\/p>\n
The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think they\u2019re ready,\u201d Gutekunst said.<\/p>\n
Now, it\u2019s time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right.<\/p>\n
Green Bay\u2019s first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the \u201830 Most Important Packers\u2019 heading into the 2025 campaign.<\/p>\n
At No. 24 is rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden.<\/p>\n
No. 24
\nMatthew Golden, WR<\/p>\n
Last season<\/p>\n
Golden spent two years at Houston, where he caught 38 passes each season. He then transferred to Texas in 2024 where he had 58 receptions, nine TDs and averaged 17.0 yards per catch for a Longhorns team that reached the College Football Playoff Final 4.<\/p>\n
From the midway point of the season, Golden became the biggest playmaker on the Longhorns\u2019 dynamic offense.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce they kind of realized what they had, then it just kind of took off,\u201d Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Golden\u2019s production.<\/p>\n
Golden also returned kickoffs at both schools, finishing with 28 attempts, a 25.8 average and two touchdowns \u2014 both coming with Houston in 2023.<\/p>\n
Golden then ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds at this year\u2019s NFL Combine, fastest among all the wideouts.<\/p>\n
Outlook<\/p>\n
Green Bay\u2019s returning wideouts failed to make the jump in 2024 that many believed they would. The Packers also lost Christian Watson \u2014 their top deep threat \u2014 to a torn ACL in Week 18, an injury that\u2019s likely to sideline him much of 2025.<\/p>\n
So the door is wide open for Golden to have a big role in Green Bay\u2019s offense this season.<\/p>\n
Golden\u2019s 40-yard dash time is the fastest in team history. He has the ability to play all three receiver spots. And when Green Bay opens training camp on July 23, Golden is likely to begin with the No. 1 offense.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think because of the high school football and the way they throw it around, the 7-on-7s, and just some of the things have changed on the lower levels, guys are coming in and making an impact quicker,\u201d Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said. \u201cAnd I certainly think Matthew has the opportunity to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 5-foot-11, 191-pound Golden is at the Packers\u2019 \u2018Mendoza line\u2019 for wide receivers \u2014 meaning that\u2019s the shortest they can be. While Golden is undersized, though, Green Bay believes he can play both outside and in the slot thanks to his other physical gifts.<\/p>\n
\u201cI will say with the way (coach) Matt (LaFleur) and his staff are able to kind of be creative and use these guys, that gives me a lot of flexibility with what I\u2019m looking at, too,\u201d Gutekunst said. \u201cThey do such a good job with scheming some of these guys and using them to their best ability. It does make it easier for me so we don\u2019t feel like we have to do this or we have to do that, that Matt and his staff will find a way to make these guys productive.\u201d<\/p>\n
They Said It \u2026<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can’t coach 4.29, or whatever they had him at. Anytime a guy is breaking sub 4.3s, you know he’s legitimately fast. I think what’s so attractive about a guy like Golden is not only is he fast, but he’s got, I’d say elite hands.\u201d \u2014 Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Golden<\/p>\n
\u201cGolden? Yeah. Like him. Like him. Looks fast. Yeah. We\u2019ll see. Once we get out there, obviously, OTAs, you\u2019ll get a feel for him but I\u2019m really excited to see how we progress through training camp and all that stuff the plays he\u2019s going to make. I\u2019m fired up about it.\u201d \u2014 Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich on Golden<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s going to be a speed threat right away. He is one of those guys that covering him from a man perspective is going to be extremely tough on teams. So when we get to some of those third-down things where people are trying to mug us up and we need somebody to get open fast, he can do that.\u201d \u2014 Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst on Golden<\/p>\n
\u201cI definitely understand the game so well to where I can tempo my routes so where I don’t have to run full speed and I just know where my breaking points need to be, wherever the defender is. I got a lot in my game. I could play inside, play out. I could also take the top off, so whatever the team needs me to do, I’m definitely that guy they need to do that.\u201d \u2014 Golden on what he can bring to Green Bay\u2019s offense<\/p>\n
THE TOP 30<\/p>\n
\u2022 No. 30 \u2014 RB MarShawn Lloyd<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 29 \u2014 WR Dontayvion Wicks<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 28 \u2014 S Javon Bullard<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022 No. 27 \u2014 WR Savion Williams<\/a><\/p>\n