Going into the 2024 NFL season, Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud had great options in the wide receiver room with Nico Collins, Tank Dell, and Stefon Diggs. But after two season-ending injuries from Dell and Diggs and with both receivers’ futures in question heading into the 2025 season, the Texans will likely look at adding talent in the offseason.
The Texans’ Replacement for WR Stefon Diggs
With Houston in the market for a wideout, the Texans could look into the 2025 NFL Draft to land one receiver who has shot up draft boards following the NFL Combine.
Matthew Golden, the wide receiver out of the University of Texas, turned heads last week after finishing with the fastest official 40-yard dash time at 4.29 seconds. The speedy Longhorn also displayed his elite route running and ball skills en route to becoming classified as one of this year’s top prospects.
PFSN has Golden going No. 25 overall to the Houston Texans, according to the latest 2025 Post Combine 2025 NFL Mock Draft. The selection also means he would be the third receiver off the board, only behind Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillen. Check out this excerpt from PFSN:
“Matthew Golden is a well-rounded receiver prospect who has the speed, quickness, and route-running ability to get open at all three levels of the field. He has outstanding ball skills and body control and would be a great complement to Collins.”
Collins finished last season as the clear WR1 in Houston with 1,006 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in just 12 games. Heading into the season without Dell and Diggs, the two sure-handed targets who combined for over 1,110 yards and six touchdowns, the Texans need a new weapon out wide for the proven CJ Stroud.
How WR Matthew Golden Stacks Up Against His Peers
Texas has produced recent first-round talent in the form of Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, but one coach, in particular, has Golden rated higher than his former teammates.
The NFL coach told Bruce Feldman from The Athletic about Golden, “He’s razor-sharp getting in and out of his cuts, and he plays a lot bigger than his size. I like him more than their two WRs last year [Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell]. He’s the best route runner in this draft. He looks like one of those Ohio State [receiver] products.”
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Golden helped lead Texas to a College Football Playoff Semifinal appearance this past season. He had his best season in college during his 2024 campaign, finishing with 58 catches for 987 yards and nine touchdowns.