The Green Bay Packers spoke volumes with their 2025 NFL Draft decisions — particularly with the selection of wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round.
Golden marked the first receiver the Packers took in the opening round since 2002, when they drafted Javon Walker. While Walker lasted just four seasons in Green Bay, the expectations for Golden are far greater. The hope is he’ll surpass not only Walker but even Davante Adams, the last truly dominant receiver to wear green and gold.
AtoZ Sports’ Wendell Ferreira took a deep dive into NFL.com’s grading system from the last 12 draft classes. His findings showed just how highly the Packers view Golden — and how rare this moment is.
“He got a 6.42 grade, which equates to a player who will become a good starter within two years,” Ferreira wrote. “The only other receiver in this category drafted by the Packers since 2014 is Davante Adams. A second-round pick in 2014, he took a little longer to develop into a great player, but eventually became an elite weapon. Adams had a 6.40 grade.”
Adams, now entering his 12th NFL season with the Los Angeles Rams, blossomed into one of the league’s most consistent pass-catchers. He narrowly missed 1,000 yards in Year 3, finishing with 997 and 12 touchdowns. From there, he stacked six 1,000-yard seasons playing with the Packers and the Raiders.
That’s exactly the kind of production the Packers are now banking on from Golden, drafted No. 23 overall. He’s being tasked with becoming the WR1 the team has been chasing for years — and the pressure is already on.
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“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.
Golden’s arrival also aims to fix one of the Packers’ biggest issues last year: drops. Green Bay’s receivers were tied for the league lead with 25.
With his elite traits and opportunity, all eyes are now on whether the rookie can live up to the hype.
MORE: Matthew Golden projected to fall behind in Packers WR room over concerns tied to Texas stint
