Matthew Golden’s Second-Year Leap: Can the First-Round Pick Deliver in 2026?
There was a buzz around Green Bay last April that went beyond the usual draft-day excitement. For the first time in over 20 years, the Packers used a first-round pick on a wide receiver, selecting Texas standout Matthew Golden with the 23rd overall pick.
The crowd at Lambeau Field-hosting the draft for the first time in franchise history-erupted. Green Bay had made a statement.
But after a rookie season where Golden never quite locked down a starting role, the question now becomes: can he make the leap in year two?
Let’s start with the promise. Golden turned heads in training camp and preseason, showing off the traits that made him a first-round selection.
He flashed reliable hands, smooth route-running, and the kind of speed that made defenders think twice. Quarterback Jordan Love didn’t hesitate to praise him.
“He’s shown up since Day 1,” Love said during camp. “He came in really polished… he’s got very aggressive hands, he’s a smooth route runner, he’s got speed.”
Love even went as far as to call him a “stud”-not a word thrown around lightly in NFL circles.
The early part of the season gave Golden a real shot to contribute. With Christian Watson sidelined on the PUP list while rehabbing a torn ACL, and Jayden Reed suffering a broken collarbone in Week 2 after trying to play through a Jones fracture, the door was wide open.
Golden got on the field and made the most of some early opportunities. He showed a knack for securing the ball and didn’t register a single drop until the final game of the season.
But despite those glimpses, he never fully seized a starting role.
Injuries didn’t help. Golden missed three games in the middle of the season and struggled to regain momentum.
He finished the year with 29 receptions for 361 yards and no touchdowns, though he did contribute on the ground with 10 carries for 49 yards on jet sweeps and end-arounds. Not eye-popping numbers, but enough to keep the intrigue alive.
What raised more eyebrows than Golden’s stat line was how he was used-or rather, how he wasn’t. As the season wore on, head coach Matt LaFleur seemed to dial back Golden’s involvement in the offense.
Instead, third-round pick Savion Williams saw more touches, and when injuries hit again, the team even turned to Bo Melton-who had been moved to cornerback in the offseason-before going back to Golden. That decision drew criticism, especially with Golden showing flashes of big-play potential.
But then came the playoff game in Chicago. In a hostile environment, with the season on the line, Golden delivered his best performance yet: four catches, 84 yards, and his first NFL touchdown.
It wasn’t just the numbers-it was the way he played. Confident, explosive, and ready for the moment.
That’s the version of Golden the Packers were hoping for when they called his name on draft night.
Looking ahead to 2026, the opportunity is there. Romeo Doubs is likely headed to free agency, and while Watson, Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Williams are all expected back, there’s still room for Golden to carve out a bigger role. The Packers haven’t had a true WR1 since trading Davante Adams, and when you take a receiver in the first round, the expectation is clear: you’re hoping he can grow into that role.
Golden has already been named a top breakout candidate for 2026 by Pro Football Focus, and the hype hasn’t died down. But now it’s about more than potential-it’s about production.
Consistency. Availability.
The traits that separate promising rookies from true difference-makers.
Year two is often when wide receivers make their biggest leap, and Golden is in a prime spot to do just that. If he can stay healthy, earn the trust of the coaching staff, and build on what he showed in that playoff game, Green Bay might just have their next star wideout already in-house.
The Packers bet big on Matthew Golden. Now it’s time to see if that investment pays off.