While the world tuned in to see this year’s draft in the league’s smallest city, Green Bay breaking its two-decade-plus record was the last thing we expected. On Thursday night, the Packers chose Matthew Golden, a Texas WR, with the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft’s first round.
Matthew was the No. 19 overall player on the consensus big board and Dane Burgler’s No. 15 overall player. Golden drafted in the first round is something that fans saw coming from a mile given how high analysts and experts rated him leading up to the days to Thursday. What was rather surprising is that by drafting Matthew in the first round, the Green Bay Packers finally broke a two-decade-plus record.
Green Bay Finally Takes WR in Round 1 of NFL Draft
On Thursday, the home team selected the wide receiver Matthew Golden of Texas with the 23rd pick in the draft. It was the first time since 2022 that Green Bay picked a receiver, Javon Walker, in the first round. The drought is finally over!
Prior to moving to Houston, the 191-pound WR caught 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns last campaign at Texas.
At the scouting combine, Matthew ran the fastest 40-yard dash time among 39 receivers, clocking a 4.29.
Mark Murphy began the announcement with: “For the first time since 2002..” Golden took his moment and shouted on the stage: “Green Bay, it’s time.”
The GM of the Green Bay Packers later joked that he sent a different name, but Mark announced what he had announced.
“I didn’t think about any of that until he got up there, and you kind of saw the crowd: they are all Green Bay fans. I did not think anything like that. We were just watching the board. We had a couple of players we were discussing,” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said.
“There were trade opportunities, things like that, so you’re going through all of that and just trying to do what’s right for the Packers. None of that came before me like that, but afterwards it did. It was just kind of like wow, that’s pretty neat.”
KEEP READING: Top 300 Prospects — Get Your Free Printable 2025 NFL Draft Big Board
For long now, the loyal fans of Green Bay Packers have always wanted the tea, to pick a WR on the first round. While these were ignored for over a couple decades now, they have finally broken the drought with the selection of Golden. At Green Bay, The 21-year old will give Jordan Love and the Packers a potential No. 1 receiver with elite speed.
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