Matthew Golden’s Rookie Year Didn’t Pop - But 2026 Could Be a Whole Different Story
When the Packers made Matthew Golden their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, they broke a 20-year trend - and made a clear statement. They saw something special in the electric wideout out of college: a player with game-breaking speed, sharp route-running, and the kind of explosiveness that keeps defensive coordinators up at night.
But in Year 1, the fireworks didn’t quite go off.
Golden entered a Packers offense that was already flush with young, emerging talent. The receiver room was crowded, the target share limited, and the rookie never quite carved out a consistent role.
He had his moments - flashes of the speed and shiftiness that made him a first-rounder - but the box score didn’t reflect the promise. He went the entire regular season without a touchdown and finished with modest numbers overall.
Then came the playoffs.
Golden finally found the end zone - a long-awaited breakthrough in a game that didn’t go Green Bay’s way. Still, that touchdown felt like more than just a footnote. It was a glimpse of what could come next, especially with a year of NFL experience now under his belt.
Heading into 2026, the situation looks different - and better - for Golden. The Packers’ depth chart has shifted, and with some key departures and potential role changes, there’s a clearer path for him to step up.
The opportunity is there. Now it’s about seizing it.
Golden still has the traits that made him a first-round pick. He’s fast - not just “combine fast,” but real-world fast.
He can stretch the field vertically, turn a quick slant into a chunk gain, and force defenses to respect his speed on every snap. That alone gives him value in an offense that’s looking to evolve and stay unpredictable.
What he needs now is consistency - in his route running, in his timing with the quarterback, and in his ability to finish plays. The tools are there.
The opportunity is growing. And the Packers, who made a bold move to draft him, still believe the payoff is coming.
So while 2025 didn’t deliver the breakout some fans were hoping for, 2026 sets up as a potential launching pad. If Golden can put it all together - the speed, the confidence, the chemistry - he could become a key piece in a Packers offense that’s already dangerous.
The arrow’s pointing up.