Pick 23: WR Matthew Golden

[lupedafiasco]

Not Jennings to me. Jennings was so good off the line of scrimmage and he was pretty deceptive in space to make plays.

Tyler Lockett actually is starting to come to mind for me. He was a guy that had no playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He always fell down to avoid hits. Not saying Golden does that but the YAC is similar. Lockett had similar size, nowhere near as fast in the 40 but they could both get deep and played bigger than they are.

[NCF]

[Acrobat]

Not Jennings to me. Jennings was so good off the line of scrimmage and he was pretty deceptive in space to make plays.

Tyler Lockett actually is starting to come to mind for me. He was a guy that had no playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He always fell down to avoid hits. Not saying Golden does that but the YAC is similar. Lockett had similar size, nowhere near as fast in the 40 but they could both get deep and played bigger than they are.

I'd take Tyler Lockett production if that's what he is! That would be 4 straight 1,000 yard seasons!

[lupedafiasco]

Not Jennings to me. Jennings was so good off the line of scrimmage and he was pretty deceptive in space to make plays.

Tyler Lockett actually is starting to come to mind for me. He was a guy that had no playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He always fell down to avoid hits. Not saying Golden does that but the YAC is similar. Lockett had similar size, nowhere near as fast in the 40 but they could both get deep and played bigger than they are.

I'd take Tyler Lockett production if that's what he is! That would be 4 straight 1,000 yard seasons!

Exactly. I’m fine with it. With the speed Golden has and the ability to still win in contested catch situations he’s going to pull defender resources.

[YoHoChecko]

Not Jennings to me. Jennings was so good off the line of scrimmage and he was pretty deceptive in space to make plays.

Tyler Lockett actually is starting to come to mind for me. He was a guy that had no playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He always fell down to avoid hits. Not saying Golden does that but the YAC is similar. Lockett had similar size, nowhere near as fast in the 40 but they could both get deep and played bigger than they are.

I'd take Tyler Lockett production if that's what he is! That would be 4 straight 1,000 yard seasons!

Take it? Sure.

But a Tyler Lockett comp is exactly the type of comp that encapsulates my "sure, this is fine; but not exciting" point of view.

[Acrobat]

Not Jennings to me. Jennings was so good off the line of scrimmage and he was pretty deceptive in space to make plays.

Tyler Lockett actually is starting to come to mind for me. He was a guy that had no playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He always fell down to avoid hits. Not saying Golden does that but the YAC is similar. Lockett had similar size, nowhere near as fast in the 40 but they could both get deep and played bigger than they are.

I'd take Tyler Lockett production if that's what he is! That would be 4 straight 1,000 yard seasons!

Take it? Sure.

But a Tyler Lockett comp is exactly the type of comp that encapsulates my "sure, this is fine; but not exciting" point of view.

Probably some recency playing a part in that, but he had a very productive stretch from 2018 to 2022 with maybe 1 year of very good QB play. No he was never considered dominant, but if he ends up giving us 10 years of similar production that Lockett gave the Seahawks, then I'd look at this pick as a success.

[lupedafiasco]

Not Jennings to me. Jennings was so good off the line of scrimmage and he was pretty deceptive in space to make plays.

Tyler Lockett actually is starting to come to mind for me. He was a guy that had no playmaking ability with the ball in his hands. He always fell down to avoid hits. Not saying Golden does that but the YAC is similar. Lockett had similar size, nowhere near as fast in the 40 but they could both get deep and played bigger than they are.

I'd take Tyler Lockett production if that's what he is! That would be 4 straight 1,000 yard seasons!

Take it? Sure.

But a Tyler Lockett comp is exactly the type of comp that encapsulates my "sure, this is fine; but not exciting" point of view.

That’s why I said in another post that this draft, or off-season in general didn’t really help us close the gap on our competition. I think the Lions are still significantly better than us and I think the Vikings are better too. The Eagles are their own issue in themselves. I think we grew sideways this off-season. We got a little better on offense and a little worse of defense.

[RingoCStarrQB]

I'd take Tyler Lockett production if that's what he is! That would be 4 straight 1,000 yard seasons!

Take it? Sure.

But a Tyler Lockett comp is exactly the type of comp that encapsulates my "sure, this is fine; but not exciting" point of view.

That’s why I said in another post that this draft, or off-season in general didn’t really help us close the gap on our competition. I think the Lions are still significantly better than us and I think the Vikings are better too. The Eagles are their own issue in themselves. I think we grew sideways this off-season. We got a little better on offense and a little worse of defense.

Maybe Jordan will have an MVP season and give the Pack a shot at winning the North. Basically blow up my 10 and 7 and 9 and 8 predictions. I hope LaCoach can handle the pressure for a change. He needs to spew new narratives and get tougher.
NFL kicks off in 129 days.

[Yoop]

I'd take Tyler Lockett production if that's what he is! That would be 4 straight 1,000 yard seasons!

Take it? Sure.

But a Tyler Lockett comp is exactly the type of comp that encapsulates my "sure, this is fine; but not exciting" point of view.

That’s why I said in another post that this draft, or off-season in general didn’t really help us close the gap on our competition. I think the Lions are still significantly better than us and I think the Vikings are better too. The Eagles are their own issue in themselves. I think we grew sideways this off-season. We got a little better on offense and a little worse of defense.

every year is a new team is not a cliche, I thought it was one of the most profound comments Mike McCarthy ever made, and that's with everything status quo.

Last year was so out of kilter right from the first game on, and it never really corrected itself, the blocking was suspect and remained inconsistent most of the season, Jacobs had more yrds after firs contact than almost any other RB in the league

Love's injury issues hampered his ability to avoid the rush, forced and hurried off target passes, while the receivers dropped more balls than 28 other teams, can't imagine we get a repeat of that.

we became so concerned with improving and stopping the run that we became lethargic rushing the QB, as Guty said, we have to get better pass rush from the base 4, I expect a fire will be lit to accomplish that.

so without adding a single player, and simply playing close to our capability we will improve.

plus we brought in a monster pusher, and a very stout hybrid tush for him to push on short yardage and goal line plays.

If ya fail to get the tush push baned, you copy it

[Pckfn23]

Dane Brugler, The Athletic (draft guide)
A one-year starter at Texas, Golden was the Z receiver in head coach Steve Sarkisian's RPO pro-style spread offense and was used across the formation with heavy motions (76.1 percent of snaps wide, 23.9 percent in the slot). After two promising seasons in Houston's Air Raid scheme, he was an underrated addition for the Longhorns in 2024 and proved especially valuable when it mattered most, averaging 102.8 receiving yards over his final four games (SEC championship and three playoff games).

Fluid in and out of his breaks, Golden shows a plan as a route runner — I love his ability to break down corners by keeping his eyes, hips and feet in sync. That coordination also translates to the catch point with his very natural ball skills to track, frame and finish. Overall, it might bother some teams that he doesn't have better size, but Golden also doesn't have any glaring flaws to his game that would keep him from becoming a productive pro. He can play inside or outside and become the go-to target for an NFL offense.

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com
Golden has average size, but he plays with tremendous polish, instincts and toughness. He spends a lot of time operating out of the slot. He can defeat press coverage with quickness or strength. He understands how to tempo routes and sets up defenders down the field. He can change gears when the ball goes up and he tracks it naturally. He does a nice job of staying grounded through the catch when working on crossers. He has the utmost confidence in his ball skills. After the catch, he is very strong/sturdy to pull through tackles and he can make defenders miss in space. I love his temperament on the field -- he plays with an edge. Overall, Golden doesn't have dynamic traits, but he's a natural football player and a quarterback's best friend. He's dependable.

Lance Zierlein, NFL.com
Golden works all three levels of the field with similar consistency and productivity. His route-running needs refinement, but he does a decent job of altering tempo and separating at break points. Golden has the ability to play all three receiver spots. He also has the agility and body control to turn near-misses into highlight catches. Focus drops still pepper his play, but he's a willing participant in traffic and took command of contested catches with better physicality and catch strength in 2024. 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.

Strengths
Meets the moment with big plays in big games.
Adequate linear speed to work past corners on vertical routes.
Agile feet allow quicker gather-and-cut as a route runner.
Good alteration of route tempo in intermediate work.
Shows ability to sink, slow and open quickly from hard vertical push.
Twitchy pluck-and-tuck protects the catch through contact.
Displays body control and focus for highlight reel adjustments and grabs.
Big-play kick return talent with two touchdowns as a sophomore at Houston.
Weaknesses
Routes can be too nonchalant and unfocused.
Takes foot off the gas if he feels like the route is covered.
Pops upright into route breaks, providing coverage a tell.
Needs to play stronger at the top of the route.
Inconsistent working back on throws to protect catch-point.
Poor hand timing causes focus drops underneath.

The Draft Network
Strengths:

Alignment-versatile

Explosive big-play threat

Hands/catching

Short-area quickness

Route-running

Instincts

Concerns:

Consistently play through contact due to size

Catch radius/length

Injury

Matthew Golden has emerged as one of the fastest-rising draft prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class, thanks to his standout performances in critical moments during the latter part of the season and throughout the playoffs for the Longhorns' offense. A transfer from the University of Houston, Golden joined the Longhorns for the 2024 season and has exceeded expectations. While fellow transfer Isaiah Bond, formerly of Alabama, was projected to be the team's top receiver, Golden's consistency has allowed him to claim that role and thrive in it with increased usage and opportunities.

Golden has demonstrated that he is a versatile receiver, capable of stretching the field vertically and working underneath coverages. This versatility enables him to fill multiple roles within an offense. An explosive player, Golden has recorded multiple games with a yards-per-catch average exceeding 20 yards. Additionally, his short-area quickness and natural instincts for the position make him a dangerous weapon for any team.

Golden's effectiveness as a receiver begins with his precise route-running and diverse releases. At the snap, he utilizes a wide array of releases depending on the defensive back's alignment. He can quickly get into his route using a speed release or employ a more deliberate, tempo-controlled release to counter tough press coverage, forcing defensive backs into false steps.

Once into his route, Golden displays the skills of an experienced and detailed route runner. He accelerates and decelerates with ease, using tempo to keep defenders guessing. At the top of both out-breaking and in-breaking routes, he sinks his hips, executes sharp cuts, and accelerates out of breaks, creating separation and providing quarterbacks with clear throwing windows.

Golden is a natural hands-catcher who secures the ball consistently. On deep routes, he excels at tracking the ball, showing exceptional concentration to make catches in stride over his shoulder. He is equally adept at catching the ball in high-traffic areas, demonstrating focus and reliability. Golden also has a knack for making contested catches, using body control to adjust to the ball and secure it even in tight coverage.

Golden's athletic profile makes him a strong option for generating yardage after the catch. He can be utilized in jet motion or orbit motion scenarios to receive the ball behind the line of scrimmage or in short-yardage situations. Once in space, Golden's short-area quickness allows him to evade defenders and turn routine catches into significant gains. Throughout the 2024 season, he has shown that he is the type of receiver offensive coordinators design game plans around to ensure he gets touches at all three levels of the field. His high-end playmaking traits can be a game-changer for any offense.

The primary concern with Golden as a prospect revolves around his size and whether it will limit his ability to consistently function as an outside receiver. Outside receivers often work in more condensed areas against elite cornerbacks who possess significant physical strength and technique. Teams will need to evaluate whether Golden can consistently create separation and maintain effectiveness in these matchups. This will be a critical factor in determining whether he can be a true No. 1 receiver at the NFL level.

Overall, Golden possesses the athletic traits and playmaking ability to become an elite receiving option for an NFL offense. With continued development, he has the potential to be a dependable, week-in and week-out target and a focal point for any team's passing attack.

PFF draft guide
Golden's game is built around impressive movement skills. His footwork is quick yet explosive, which allows him to get off press and regularly create separation. He also understands some of the nuances of the position already — active hands with good timing to clear press, choosing the correct release moves versus certain leverage and veering routes to create throwing windows. He has some very impressive sideline catches this year, where he is asked to go up and pluck passes with maximum catch radius testing while toe-tapping inbounds. He is fast but not a true blazer by NFL standards. He is also pretty light in the blocking game despite being used on the line of scrimmage a good amount this past season.

Bleacher Report Scouting Department
Matthew Golden is an explosive and dynamic receiver with positional flexibility.

Golden makes plays from multiple wide receiver positions, X, slot, & Z. He separates from coverage well with his innate ability to decelerate and accelerate in and out of his breaks. He sells go-routes on the vertical plane well to push the cornerback upfield creating space for him to break downhill and back towards the quarterback. He modulates speeds to Golden is a crisp route runner who separators well at the top of his route. He is a quick mover with sharp plants to pivot in the right direction. Golden can suddenly change directions and lose his man coverage defender. He works the inside leverage well before cutting between the hashes into the middle of the field.

Golden's speed and acceleration will take the top off the defense; generating explosive plays through the air to back safeties off and create lighter defensive fronts against the run. He will take the primary corner and deep safety vertical; essentially freeing up underneath routes for his teammates. His acceleration is outstanding and on display after the catch. Golden can explode past defenders after catching an underneath target in space. He shifts gears quickly in space and can eat up grass for maximum YAC.

In contested catch situations, Golden displays good body control as he elevates in the air to make a play. He is competitive at the catch point and can reel in difficult grabs. Golden's ability to contort his body and maintain control to stay in bounds is impressive.

As a run blocker, Golden leaves a lot to be desired. He struggles to sustain leverage or the block. He lacks the play strength and physicality to operate as a play-side crackback blocker. He is easily shed by defenders and displaced. If aligned in the slot, effective run blocking is important to have in your wheelhouse. Golden's wingspan is functional, but NFL cornerbacks with athleticism and a good wingspan will challenge him at the LOS. His use of hands against press alignment needs work. To maximize his skill set and potential, he must develop more counters against physical corners.

In all, Matthew Golden projects as a WR 2/3 to assume the role of a movement Z receiver. With his speed and explosiveness Golden will be a nice complement to a traditional X-receiver. He will be the quick separator in the offense.

Kyle Crabbs, 33rd Team
Texas Longhorns wide receiver Matthew Golden is an explosive pass catcher who boasts versatility in how he can impact a passing game. The Texas offense unleashed a downfield weapon that accentuated his burst off the line of scrimmage — but his inside/outside versatility sets the stage for a player who can win from the slot with separation quickness and in underneath targets as well.

Golden illustrates excellent body control and contortion skills at the catch point, unlocking his frame to adjust to throws of all angles and making him a high-percentage target when he's given opportunities despite coverage that may be working back into his frame. Golden was an impactful contested catch target in 2024 despite not having the biggest frame and boasting significant separation skills. He's got a little something for everyone.

https://packerswire.usatoday.com/story/ ... 265059007/

Golden, a Houston native, carved his own unique path from Klein Cain High School to the University of Houston before making a splash in Austin with the Longhorns during the 2024 season. His rise to national attention wasn't straightforward—initially committing to TCU, he later switched to Houston. There, he made a mark by setting freshman records with seven touchdowns in 2022. Over two years with the Cougars, Golden showcased his knack for scoring, finding the end zone 13 times through the air and adding two kickoff return touchdowns to his resume. In 2024, he transitioned to Texas, starting all 15 games and delivering his best performances on the biggest stages, including 162 yards in the SEC Championship and a game-winning overtime touchdown in the Peach Bowl.

Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 195 pounds, Golden is a true speedster, bringing impressive track speed to the football field with a blazing 4.30-second 40-yard dash that matches his explosive play on the field. His high school days hinted at his future success, amassing 3,242 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns while earning All-State honors. As a four-star recruit, his athletic talents extended beyond football, clocking a 10.93-second 100-meter dash and excelling in the triple jump during his track career.

In his final season at Texas, Golden proved he could compete against top-tier opponents, featuring multiple 100-yard games in crucial late-season matchups. His evolution from a primarily vertical threat at Houston to a versatile receiver in Texas's pro-style offense highlights his dedication to expanding his route repertoire and enhancing his overall game.

Scouting Report: Strengths
Absolute burner who hits top gear in a flash – defenders caught flat-footed against his vertical routes learn a painful lesson about respecting his speed
Shows advanced understanding of route tempo, masterfully changing speeds to set up breaks and create separation against both man and zone
Natural hands-catcher who can contort his body and adjust to off-target throws while maintaining control through contact
Explosive playmaker after the catch with the vision and acceleration of a kick returner – turns routine catches into chunk plays
Nasty route runner who sells his breaks with conviction – cornerbacks bite hard on his double moves due to his convincing head and shoulder fakes
Special teams value as a proven kick returner who housed two returns in 2023 – averaged over 31 yards per return showing game-breaking ability
Competitive at the catch point despite modest size – elevates and high-points the ball with impressive body control and timing
Consistently creates separation at the top of routes through sudden deceleration and explosive drive out of breaks
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
Frame could use additional bulk to better absorb contact and maintain positioning against physical NFL corners who get hands on him
Concentration drops pop up more than you'd like to see – focus seems to waver when thinking about running before securing the catch
Blocking effort and technique need significant refinement – struggles to sustain engagement and can get overpowered by defensive backs
Medical history raises some durability concerns with foot surgery in 2023 and previous rib injury limiting availability
Press release package needs expansion beyond athletic ability – currently relies too heavily on pure speed and quickness to win off the line

Scouting Report: Summary
NFL offenses will find an immediate deep threat in Matthew Golden who brings far more than just straight-line speed to the table. His sophisticated understanding of route-running and ability to separate at all levels will give offensive coordinators a versatile chess piece to deploy across the formation. While he's dangerous from any alignment, Golden truly shines on the outside where his vertical explosion and sharp breaks create nightmares for defensive backs trying to stay in phase.

The explosiveness shows up time after time on film, particularly during his remarkable College Football Playoff run where he emerged as Texas's go-to target. His stock has soared after dominant performances in the biggest moments – including a spectacular 162-yard showing in the SEC Championship and a clutch 149-yard outing with a game-saving touchdown grab in the Peach Bowl. That level of production against elite competition has talent evaluators scrambling to move him up their boards.

Look for Golden to come off the board in the middle of first round to teams seeking explosive elements in their passing attack. His game would shine brightest in a timing-based offense that maximizes his route-running precision while letting him attack vertically off play-action. While he'll benefit from adding more strength to his frame, Golden's combination of reliable hands, separation skills, and big-play ability – coupled with his proven performance in the biggest moments – make him possibly the receiver with the highest upside in the class.

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Mat ... WR-Houston

Matthew Golden scouting report
Accolades

2024: Saved his best for the biggest moments, racking up 19 receptions for 411 yards and a touchdown in four "postseason" games (SEC title game against Georgia and three College Football Playoff games)
2024: Second-team All-SEC
Provides versatility having totaled 722 return yards and a pair of kick return touchdowns during his collegiate career
Strengths

Lined up across the formation and was utilized both in the slot and out wide, as well as in tight formations and spread, and even in each place in twins and trips groupings.
Extremely impressive route tree, especially for a receiver with one year in a pro-style offense. And not only did Golden run every route imaginable (and some great combos), but he also would change his pace and tempo to help set up defensive backs when he kicked into a higher gear. His diverse routes and varied speed will be exciting for playcallers to go to the lab with. Playing at Texas helped give him more exposure to routes.
Footwork was pretty good with potential for much more. Golden would use stutter-steps, jab-steps and sometimes pair them with shoulder-fakes to try and get a defensive back flat-footed or off-balance. These were his primary ways of trying to ditch coverage at the snap without speed or strength, and while they weren't always successful, there's enough evidence to believe he can add to his repertoire and become much more dangerous.
Golden was a fluid, agile athlete who could suddenly change directions without wasted motion, especially on 90- or 180-degree routes. He'd get a step on in- and out-breaking routes along with multiple steps on hitch and comeback routes because he was often so quick to stop his feet and go in a different path. He seemed to get better at this at Texas.

As part of his route-running technique, Golden had a knack for "peeling off" defenders with ease. So when he made actual contact, or when he needed to get away with a subtle push-off, Golden was great at separating from DBs, often in conjunction with his sudden change-of-direction.
Had mature, coordinated tracking and concentration skills to help with his receptions. Golden admitted in an interview after the College Football Playoff win over Arizona State that his game-tying touchdown in overtime was one he initially lost in the lights before quickly recognizing the ball and reacting quickly to bring it in. His deep-ball traits are helped by this.
Consistently displayed good acceleration in his routes and good speed (maybe not 4.29 speed, but still good speed) to challenge defensive backs and was even more dangerous when he was used in motion and had a running start at the snap. He's not going to leave dudes in the dust like Tyreek Hill, but he'll win with speed against slower corners. A smart squad will line Golden up everywhere and get him moving when the play starts to fully maximize this talent.
Big-time vertical skills were just another winning element of Golden's athleticism. Would time his jumps in sync with his quarterback's throws and show the outrageous ability to win on high throws, sometimes a good foot-plus over a defensive back.
Often adjusted to off-target throws both with seamless body control and by gearing down his wheels to make the grab. Though his size didn't afford him a big catch radius, whatever balls were in the vicinity of his wingspan were often brought in last season.
Frequently extended his arms and snared passes away from his body and reeled in the ball to protect it. Golden had two fumbles at Houston (neither were turned over) and none at Texas. Additionally, there are examples of Golden making highlight-reel, one-handed grabs both at Texas and Houston.

Has been a touchdown magnet since high school: Scored once every 6.1 catches over three years in college and once every 5.2 receptions in high school. That's pretty cool.
Viewed as a motivated, high-character, all-business individual. High school coach James Clancy said Golden was an "excellent student" with "an unbelievable heart" and is loyal to his family, friends and teammates. Then-teammate Tank Dell told the media before the 2022 season that Golden was "special."
Deserves credit for working on his craft and committing himself to improving. In an interview, he credited his coaches for helping him get acclimated to Texas' pro-style offense after years in Houston's Air Raid scheme, but he was the one who took initiative before he even played a down for the Longhorns (he did the same thing in Houston). Additionally, Golden made the extra effort to get his timing down with quarterback Quinn Ewers in one offseason. Golden said he committed himself to Ewers, telling him he had his back, and the two worked hard after practice getting in sync. It's completely reasonable to expect Golden to continue making this kind of effort at the pro level, which NFL coaches will absolutely love.
Returned kicks in high school and in college.
Concerns

Adequately sized player but not physically dominant in any way. Probably not much room, or frankly need, to bulk up, either.
Quickness was least evident off the snap, but he almost never blew a defensive back away with pure speed. At best he had good burst when changing directions but rarely in his first one or two steps. A little disappointing considering how fast he is otherwise.
Improved hands in 2024 but has a history with drops: Five over 56 targets in 2022, six over 63 targets in 2023 and technically four over 58 targets in 2024, but it's a stretch to call two of them his fault (and only one was based on concentration). So while he got better with drops in 2024, the reality is that Golden had a 9.2% drop rate at Houston and a 7.4% drop rate for his career. None of the other top receivers in the 2025 class had a career drop rate higher than 5.1%.
Aside from subtly pushing off from cornerbacks in his routes, Golden struggled with physicality. He was never really a dominant contested-catch winner and often lost out on catches because of aggressive jostling that receivers have to win against, be it because defenders disrupted his timing or broke up passes at the catch point. I would expect NFL defensive backs to get handsy with him.
Golden had a 13.8% avoided tackle rate in 2024, tied for second-lowest among the top six WR prospects in the draft. But he did have a 23.7% avoided tackle rate at Houston, and his best year was his first year (26.3%) and not his second when his ADOT cratered.
Definite weakness as a run blocker, complete with several lapses in execution and frequent unenthusiastic effort to even make contact much less block. He rarely attacked his defender and locked him up for the entirety of the play.
Despite being a lifetime touchdown magnet, Golden didn't get his breakout moment until his third year, and even then it was seven games into the season when he started to get more playing time. Golden notched career bests in snaps played per game (55.1), yards per route run (2.51), yards per catch (19.0) and explosive play rate (35.1%!) in his final 10 college games. This was despite his target share remaining steady at about 19%. Before then, his bests over any season (or partial season in the case of 2024) were 46.7 snaps per game (2022), 1.81 yards per route run (first six of 2024), 15.4 yards per catch (2022) and a 23.2% explosive play rate (2022). An NFL team must be comfortable with Golden's lack of extensive success and may find themselves tasked with trying to improve on his fundamentals.
After overcoming a minor groin injury in October 2023, Golden suffered a turf toe injury in early November 2023 that required surgery and sidelined him for the rest of that season. He recovered and was fine until a high-ankle sprain knocked him out of Texas' College Football Playoff game against Ohio State in January.
Bottom line

NFL coaches and execs might have real trouble deciding whether Golden's last 10 games are indicative of what kind of player he is now, but there's enough evidence to say Golden has improved his receiving skills, route-running and footwork while maintaining good speed, quickness and agility. He appears to be a high-character human with a hunger to be a stellar teammate. The real dilemma facing NFL decision-makers is whether or not Golden can be a true alpha receiver, or if he's better suited as a No. 2 option. Golden's lack of breaking tackles and winning against physical coverage does throw a wet blanket on his upside. That's going to be tough for him to overcome and might keep him from being a big-time breakout right away, but there wouldn't be much surprise if he's competing to lead his team in targets by, say, November of 2026.
What other draft experts say about Matthew Golden
Ryan Wilson: Explosive is the best one-word description for Golden, who reminded me a lot of Jordan Addison coming out of USC. He doesn't have the biggest frame but consistently creates separation at the top of his route, has legit track speed (10.93 seconds in the 100-meter dash in high school) and also has return ability. His best football is ahead of him.
Mike Renner: Matthew Golden is a graceful route-runner who you can trust to run the full tree. Golden is versatile and ascending as a true junior coming out.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/new ... -and-more/

[YoHoChecko]

Well now that I've read ALL the scouting reports I know that he is a plus route runner who needs to refine his route running and lines up 76% outside but spends a lot of time in the slot and needs to work on his release packages and is strong at getting a release and is a true burner who isn't a true burner.

And yes, those are all contained above.

[Pckfn23]

Well now that I've read ALL the scouting reports I know that he is a plus route runner who needs to refine his route running and lines up 76% outside but spends a lot of time in the slot and needs to work on his release packages and is strong at getting a release and is a true burner who isn't a true burner.

And yes, those are all contained above.

Absolutely, which is why draft profiles are a shot in the dark some times.

Some common themes throughout. Can separate. Hands catcher, but had concentration drops in previous years. Struggles as a blocker. Quick and explosive in and out of breaks. Speculation that his size will hinder him against press, but defeated press with good releases in college.

All in all the most consistent knocks come from his size.

[Yoop]

Thanks 23 for all the clips

all draft reports have pros and cons and often contradict each other, so ya have to search for consensus opinions. Goldie doesn't check all boxes, but who does? we rarely even get to sniff a perfect player, or even WR, and when we do get a glimpse of one our GM's take a defender or QB, and now that we do get one we concentrate on short comings

Golden is a walk on #1 receiver, we don't have a receiver that will keep him out of the rotation, not that I've seen and that includes Watson

[go pak go]

Thanks 23 for all the clips

all draft reports have pros and cons and often contradict each other, so ya have to search for consensus opinions. Goldie doesn't check all boxes, but who does? we rarely even get to sniff a perfect player, or even WR, and when we do get a glimpse of one our GM's take a defender or QB, and now that we do get one we concentrate on short comings

Golden is a walk on #1 receiver, we don't have a receiver that will keep him out of the rotation, not that I've seen and that includes Watson

The only real "pass" on WR I truly remember us taking in the draft at WR was Dez Bryant (we took Bulaga) and DJ Metcalf (we took Savage?)

I just don't remember all of these other situations where we passed on this coveted WR I keep hearing about.

[Drj820]

Thanks 23 for all the clips

all draft reports have pros and cons and often contradict each other, so ya have to search for consensus opinions. Goldie doesn't check all boxes, but who does? we rarely even get to sniff a perfect player, or even WR, and when we do get a glimpse of one our GM's take a defender or QB, and now that we do get one we concentrate on short comings

Golden is a walk on #1 receiver, we don't have a receiver that will keep him out of the rotation, not that I've seen and that includes Watson

The only real "pass" on WR I truly remember us taking in the draft at WR was Dez Bryant (we took Bulaga) and DJ Metcalf (we took Savage?)

I just don't remember all of these other situations where we passed on this coveted WR I keep hearing about.

Bum LVN over JSN and Jordan Addison!

[go pak go]

Thanks 23 for all the clips

all draft reports have pros and cons and often contradict each other, so ya have to search for consensus opinions. Goldie doesn't check all boxes, but who does? we rarely even get to sniff a perfect player, or even WR, and when we do get a glimpse of one our GM's take a defender or QB, and now that we do get one we concentrate on short comings

Golden is a walk on #1 receiver, we don't have a receiver that will keep him out of the rotation, not that I've seen and that includes Watson

The only real "pass" on WR I truly remember us taking in the draft at WR was Dez Bryant (we took Bulaga) and DJ Metcalf (we took Savage?)

I just don't remember all of these other situations where we passed on this coveted WR I keep hearing about.

Bum LVN over JSN and Jordan Addison!

Man Addison...I was so wrong on him. I didn't want him at all and boy has he proven me wrong.

[YoHoChecko]

Just to clarify, I'm not debating whether he'll have success or fail; I think he is going to be a good NFL WR. He clearly gets it and has the feel.

I'm questioning--given that we drafted him 10 spots higher than we've drafted any WR in decades--did we get better return for that pick than for the second rounders? In essence, is he A Dude or a good player?

And so the distinction, "can he beat press coverage?" for instance... it isn't "is he bad at it or is he good at it?" It's "Is he decent at it or is he great at it?" And for me, it's decent.

I just watched Andy Herman's deep dive (Herman is excited). But he also summed up my points during one rant where he basically said is he "1A" at this? No, but he's good. Is he 1a at that? No but he's good. For several traits and abilities. Separation, release, YAC, etc.

In any outcome, I think this will be a good draft pick. I'm just wondering where on this spectrum of comps he actually lies? From Bo Melton (same size speed) to Santana Moss to Emmanuel Sanders to Tyler Lockett to Chris Olave to Santonio Holmes to Terry McLaurin (I'm really not sure who to put at the top of that spectrum and don't feel like researching)... where he falls along that spectrum will matter to me because this is a premium pick. If we had taken this guy in rounds 2 or 3, it's a good pick, but getting any starter feels great. At 23, taking a guy to be Santana Moss or Tyler Lockett is a lot less satisfying than a guy that turns out to be Chris Olave.

Is he a guy that can carry a passing game or a cog in a wheel?

Personally, I think the team can do well with cogs in wheels anyway. I barely even buy the "we need a #1" argument. But now that we've invested such a high pick, I want him to be better than a complementary piece.

The two things I like most here are that 1) it seems natural to him, and 2) he's got that dawg in him a little bit. Those two things help take an Emmanuel Sanders and increase the odds of being a Terry McLaurin.

[YoHoChecko]

Man Addison...I was so wrong on him. I didn't want him at all and boy has he proven me wrong.

yes, BUT. He's done so sharing the field with Jefferson.

[Yoop]

Thanks 23 for all the clips

all draft reports have pros and cons and often contradict each other, so ya have to search for consensus opinions. Goldie doesn't check all boxes, but who does? we rarely even get to sniff a perfect player, or even WR, and when we do get a glimpse of one our GM's take a defender or QB, and now that we do get one we concentrate on short comings

Golden is a walk on #1 receiver, we don't have a receiver that will keep him out of the rotation, not that I've seen and that includes Watson

The only real "pass" on WR I truly remember us taking in the draft at WR was Dez Bryant (we took Bulaga) and DJ Metcalf (we took Savage?)

I just don't remember all of these other situations where we passed on this coveted WR I keep hearing about.

we could have traded up for one in several draft classes but we sat pat or we traded up for Love or a defender versus one.

[go pak go]

Thanks 23 for all the clips

all draft reports have pros and cons and often contradict each other, so ya have to search for consensus opinions. Goldie doesn't check all boxes, but who does? we rarely even get to sniff a perfect player, or even WR, and when we do get a glimpse of one our GM's take a defender or QB, and now that we do get one we concentrate on short comings

Golden is a walk on #1 receiver, we don't have a receiver that will keep him out of the rotation, not that I've seen and that includes Watson

The only real "pass" on WR I truly remember us taking in the draft at WR was Dez Bryant (we took Bulaga) and DJ Metcalf (we took Savage?)

I just don't remember all of these other situations where we passed on this coveted WR I keep hearing about.

we could have traded up for one in several draft classes but we sat pat or we traded up for Love or a defender versus one.

no I am not accepting 2020. That year just wasn't meant to be as 3 WRs went off the board in 5 selections. There were virtually no trading partners as everyone knew we would have been trading to take the WR they selected (and cleraly wanted)

DrJ gave a good example in 2023 though with the LVN pick over JSN/Addison.