The Green Bay Packers stunned their fanbase back in April when they used their first-round pick on wide receiver Matthew Golden.
It marked the first time since 2002 that the Packers had selected a wideout in the opening round, a clear signal they expect big things from the former Texas Longhorns star.
Golden already seems to be earning the trust of his quarterback, Jordan Love.
“Man, I think he’s shown up since Day 1 and just really shown his play style, shown what he’s all about,” Love said on Kevin Clark’s This Is Football. “He came in really polished and has been making plays since Day 1. He’s got very aggressive hands, he’s a smooth route runner, he’s got speed. So I think for him, it’s just continuing to understand the playbook and wrap his head around everything we have in. We have a very deep system.
“But you can see, when he knows what he’s doing, and he’s feeling confident, he’s been playing lights out. He’s gonna be a stud.”
Golden first broke out at Houston, earning second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2023, before transferring to Texas last season. With the Longhorns, he posted 58 catches for 987 yards and nine touchdowns.
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Love’s glowing endorsement only reinforces what scouting reports said about Golden leading up to the draft.
"Golden’s starting-level traits and big leap forward as a go-to playmaker have him primed to become a productive catch-maker with the potential to develop into a WR1 in the future," NFL.com’s scouting report said.
MORE: Packers’ rookie Matthew Golden projected to be better WR than Davante Adams
Despite the Packers’ crowded receiver room — which features Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks — Golden may give Love something he hasn’t truly had yet: a legitimate No. 1 wideout.