Peter Schrager’s latest NFL mock draft sees the Green Bay Packers do something they have not done in a very long time, draft a wide receiver.
Could Matthew Golden Be the First Packers Round 1 WR in Over 20 Years?
2002 was the last time the Packers took a WR in the first round of the draft. Aaron Rodgers said on multiple occasions that he would love the team to go get a top receiver. Prior to the Super Bowl, Jordan Love even said he can see the team going defense in the first round.
“Knowing the Green Bay Packers, I think we’re going to go defense.”
Jordan Love’s prediction for the Packers’ 1st Round pick back at the Super Bowl.@heykayadams | @jordan3love pic.twitter.com/EQQWBwZ0M8
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) April 23, 2025
ESPN’s Peter Schrager has released his NFL Round 1 Mock Draft, one day out from the event that takes place in Green Bay. The analyst predicts that the Packers will go with Texas Longhorns WR Matthew Golden at pick No. 23.
Schrager said, “I know it’s out of character for Green Bay to take a receiver in Round 1, they haven’t done it since 2002, but in this scenario, Golden could slide right to them. And I can’t see him sliding much more. Green Bay could go in several directions. I doubt anyone thought the Packers could get the consensus top wideout on many boards, though.”
Golden had a terrific Junior year at Texas, going for 987 yards and nine touchdowns as the Longhorns made it to the College Football Playoff Semifinals. Standout games include the SEC Championship defeat to the Georgia Bulldogs, where he went for 162 yards, and the Arizona State CFP Quarterfinal win, where he had seven catches for 149 yards.
The Longhorns’ WR is one of the top receivers in the class, with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah believing he is the best of the lot and 14th 14th-ranked prospect. He is one of many receivers to have had predraft visits to Green Bay and could provide Love with his new number one receiving option.
Golden is only 5’11”, but he has natural instincts and speed and is not afraid to get involved in the blocking game or try to run over defenders.
His ability to beat press coverage is exceptional and has great know how of when he needs to change gears and tempo. He has been very dependable for Texas and working out of the slot he could be a nice addition to the Green Bay offense.
3+ minutes of Texas WR Matthew Golden absolutely cooking:
• A natural separating route-runner with elite twitch, burst, and speed. Top-tier ability at the catch point. WR1.
Enjoy the show… https://t.co/YOGJaPCS3D pic.twitter.com/l4FwId2q10
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) April 22, 2025
Christian Watson is expected to miss most of the 2025 NFL season, Romeo Doubs was hit and miss at times, with Jayden Reed looking like the standout of the WR room. Even running back Josh Jacobs said this offseason he would like the team to add a new wide receiver.
Other possible Packers targets that went later in Schrager’s mock draft include: offensive tackle Josh Simmons, cornerback Will Johnson, and Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart.
Wide Receiver Options for Packers in 2025 NFL Draft
There have been a variety of receivers named as the top one in this class. Travis Hunter counts, but is by far and away the best, and is listed as a dual-position WR/DB. He is well out of Green Bay’s reach, but there are a few other WRs they could look at.
If the Packers want a bigger WR, Tetairoa McMillan had back-to-back 1300+ yard seasons for the Arizona Wildcats. He is an elite athlete and, at 6’4″, can play all across the field. His route-running is elite, and he has a great ability to track throws and come out on top in contested catches.
Emeka Egbuka is a slightly bigger slot receiver than Golden and has two 1000+ yard receiving seasons for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He is reliable, has natural catching ability, and has shown elite speed but great agility to create separation.
Luther Burden III is an intriguing prospect and perhaps has the biggest range in terms of selection. He had a 1212-yard season in 2023, but that dipped down to just under 700 yards in 2024. There is no doubt about his separation, agility, and catching ability, but reports of a fractured relationship with Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz have teams wary of drafting him.
It is not all doom and gloom if the Packers were to look to improve elsewhere with their first-round pick. There is a plethora of talented WRs in this class, and some first-round talents may drop into the second round.
Other WRs who will likely be day two selections include Elic Ayomanor of Stanford, Jayden Higgins of Iowa State, Jack Bech of TCU, Jalen Royals of Utah State, Tre Harris of Ole Miss, and Xavier Restrepo of Miami. All of those guys should be available in round two or three, but there is the potential for Egbuka to drop into the second round.
My personal pick would be McMillan if he is available at 23. Schrager has him at 19 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, other mocks have him going as high as a top 10 pick.
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Reed is already a very capable slot receiver for the Packers, and so adding some size with a McMillan or Egbuka would be my personal pick.
Who knows if the Packers will shake it up or follow the path of the previous 20 years? We’ll find out tomorrow.
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