The fastest receiver at his combine, Matthew Golden became the first receiver Green Bay has drafted in the first round since 2002.
Matthew Golden joined the Packers as a burner out of Texas, giving Jordan Love a true first-round weapon at receiver for the first time in over two decades of Green Bay draft history. His blazing speed and big-play ability made him a marquee name in a talented 2025 receiver class.
Path to the league
Golden began his college career at Houston before transferring to Texas in December 2023, where he led the Longhorns with 49 receptions for 787 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024 as Texas advanced to the College Football Playoff. Green Bay selected him in the first round, 23rd overall, of the 2025 NFL Draft, the franchise's first first-round receiver since Javon Walker in 2002.
Career highlights
At Houston, Golden earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2023 and once returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash among all receivers at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, clocking 4.29 seconds, cementing his reputation as one of the draft's premier deep threats.
2025 season recap
Golden's rookie regular season was inconsistent, finishing with 29 receptions for 361 yards and no touchdowns across 14 games after missing time in November with shoulder and wrist injuries. He turned it on in the postseason, however, catching four passes for 84 yards and a 23-yard touchdown in the Packers' Wild Card loss to Chicago.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Matthew Golden
- Pro Football Reference: Matthew Golden
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Receiving
14 games played▶Receiving · career
| Year | Team | GP | REC | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | packers | 14 | 29 | 361 | 12.4 | 0 | 46 |
▶Rushing · career
| Year | Team | GP | CAR | YDS | AVG | TD | LNG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | packers | 14 | 10 | 49 | 4.9 | 0 | 9 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Wide Receiver
- Group
- offense
- College
- Texas
- Hometown
- Houston, TX, USA
- Age
- 23
- Status
- active
