Matthew Golden says his first NFL season didn’t need fixing, even after a slow start where he finished sixth on Green Bay’s receiving list with 29 catches and missed three games due to injuries.
When the Packers broke with tradition to take wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round of the 2025 draft, the expectation was that he’d quickly seize a major role. Instead, rookie football looked more measured.
Golden didn’t jump to the top of the depth chart during his first season. He ended the regular season sixth on the team with 29 catches and failed to score a touchdown. He also missed three games due to injuries. For some fans, it read like a disappointing beginning. For Golden, it sounded like the right kind of beginning.
“I would say it happened exactly how it was supposed to,” Golden said via the team’s website. “I feel like it developed me and [my] mindset to have a chip on my shoulder. just how to go about things. I wouldn’t change anything that happened last year. I feel like for this year, it’s a part of the plan, man, and I’m excited.”.
There’s a clear shift on the roster heading into what comes next. Two of the receivers who were ahead of Golden during his rookie season. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks. are now playing for other teams. With that door opened, Golden believes the opportunity is there without needing to force extra urgency.
He said he doesn’t feel added pressure, pointing to his own confidence in what he believes he can do.
“To be honest, I don’t feel like they’ve seen anything yet,” Golden said. “I have a lot of confidence in myself and I know what I have done. To me, it wasn’t anything yet. I know it’s a lot more out there. I’m excited for it. I know I’m gonna prove myself right.”
The Packers. for their part. appear ready to build their offensive plans for 2026 around the idea that Golden’s first year was more preparation than proof. Golden doesn’t disagree. He’s already talking like the next season is when the story finally starts moving in the direction everyone originally hoped for.
Green Bay Packers Matthew Golden 2025 draft rookie season wide receiver injuries Romeo Doubs Dontayvion Wicks NFL 2026
So basically he had a slow year and no TD but it’s “exactly how it was supposed to”? ok.
I mean if he missed 3 games that’s not really a “meant to happen” moment lol. Packers fans will still want production like yesterday.
Wait I thought this Golden guy already played with like the starters? Doesn’t say anything about how many targets he got, so 29 catches sounds like they barely used him. Maybe ARodg— I mean Jordan Love forgot how to throw or something.
Doubs and Wicks leaving is wild, like the Packers always draft and then shuffle everyone out. If he thinks nobody has “seen anything yet” I guess he needs to prove it in 2026, because last year looked kinda mid to me.