The Green Bay Packers’ 2024 season ended the same way it began—with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. After their 34-29 loss to Philly in Week 1, the Packers bounced back to finish 11-6, looking like a team poised to make a deep playoff run. But when the postseason arrived, they fell flat, and their season came to a frustrating close on Wild Card Weekend, where they suffered a 22-10 defeat to the eventual Super Bowl champion.
However, Green Bay might have something special brewing with Jordan Love. After a breakout season in 2023, during which he threw for over 4,100 yards and 32 touchdowns, Love regressed slightly in 2024 but has firmly established himself as the face of the franchise.
The Packers need reinforcements in their wide receiver room that was plagued by injuries and lacks a true WR1. That’s why one analyst predicts they could look for an answer in the 2025 NFL Draft, picking Texas’ Matthew Golden.
Analyst Predicts Green Bay Packers Will Draft Matthew Golden
Green Bay is lacking a proven No. 1 wide receiver. Jayden Reed has shown flashes of stardom, Romeo Doubs was a reliable target, and Christian Watson can stretch the field with his deep-threat ability. But inconsistency and injuries ravaged the group, and none of the three managed to cross 1,000 receiving yards on the year.
There’s speculation that the Packers are now looking to address the problem this offseason, and that’s why PFNS’s latest mock draft by Justin Lewis predicts they will pick Mathew Golden with the 23rd pick.
“Matthew Golden’s ability to improve his hands at the line of scrimmage will ultimately dictate how consistently he produces at the next level,” Lewis wrote. “He’s savvy but must improve his ability to skirt more technically proficient press-coverage defenders.
“Nevertheless, there’s a reason Golden became Quinn Ewers’ preferred target down the stretch. His nuanced route running and consistently impressive ability to finish make him a reliable target for quarterbacks, no matter the situation.
“He tracks the ball incredibly well in the air, which was evidenced against Georgia and Arizona State. Golden’s ability to contort his frame mid-air and finish with an eye on the sideline further proves his prowess as a pass catcher.”
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While Golden may not be positioned to break out as a rookie, he’s a productive receiver with the potential to develop into a true WR1. He generated 58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns with the Longhorns in 2024, and one can argue he’d immediately be Green Bay’s most talented target.
Matthew Golden is an elite athlete with track speed and fantastic route running. As a deep ball and double move monster, he’s a major big play threat pic.twitter.com/mw49mCT7hq https://t.co/5dVlxOTsnR
— The FF Mediators (@TheFFMediators) February 19, 2025
Reed led the Packers in receiving yards with 857 yards but stands to gain if Golden can effectively serve as the WR2 behind him. Golden’s elite route running and ability to make tough catches would give Love a reliable security blanket in key situations, something the Packers seemed to lack in 2024, despite finishing with the league’s eighth-best unit by PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
