Jay Gruden and the “Clean Pocket” crew believe Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden is not the number one true wide receiver in the 2025 NFL draft. They believe that after Travis Hunter, Golden is “by far” the best wide receiver in the draft.
Where Matthew Golden Ranks in the 2025 NFL Draft
Speaking to the crew, Jay Gruden said:
“I think Matthew Golden number two by far. I really Do after the combine performance cuz I wasn’t sure how fast he was on tape and that can be a negative cuz that looked like maybe because he’s got Bond running next to him I don’t know”
Gruden went on to discuss Golden’s natural ability to play receiver. Jay stated that after he noticed a couple of routes from Golden, it reminded him of Reggie Wayne from the past.
Then he went on to mention that Golden is the second-best true wide receiver.
“I like the guy. I think he is a good player. I think personally he is the uh second best receiver off the board.”
Golden’s Stats and NFL Projections
The wide receiver spent his first two campaigns in Houston. There, he was generally a role player outside of some dominant performances, mainly against non-conference opponents. Now, his strengths have reached new heights, while a looming weakness is still a concern for the wide receiver.
Consistency is a must for Golden, as he has had some head-scratching drops that are tough to digest when you are aware of the highlight-reel grabs he is capable of at times. Moreover, the injuries are a concern for the wide receiver.
Golden is a well-rounded pass-catcher with great route-running ability, ideal short-area quickness, and the ability to make huge catches in vital moments. His awareness allows him to set up defenders for failure and find blind spots to exploit. Here is a glimpse of his 2024 stats.
- Rec- 58
- YDS- 987
- TD- 9
- AVG- 17.0
- LNG- 54
As far as the 2025 NFL draft goes, the wide receiver is projected to be a late first-round to early second-round pick.
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He described the wide receiver in one word as “Explosive.” Ryan mentioned that Golden reminded him a lot of Jordan Addison. He added that though he does not have such a big frame, he consistently creates separation at the top of his route and has great return ability.
Looking at the wide receiver’s 2024 season, Golden’s clutch gene alone will be sufficient to make him a strong point of interest in the early rounds.
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