Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
APRIL 23, 2025
The Green Bay Packers brain trust is gathered in the bowels of Lambeau Field for their final pre-draft meeting. GM Brian Gutekunst stands, and surveys the room. Every seat at the giant oak conference table is filled with a scout or other Packers’ decision maker except for one.
“Where’s Murphy?” Gutekunst asks, referring to President and CEO Mark Murphy.
“Ummm, he’s in the parking lot …” replied Director of Player Personnel John ‘Woj’ Wojciechowski.
“The PARKING LOT??? What the hell is he doing out there Woj?”
“Well…he’s painting signs…” Woj said.
“SIGNS? It’s the day before the draft. What the hell kind of signs is he painting?”
“’Ban the Tush Push!’ signs. I think that’s what he’s planning to do at the draft. He’s planning to hang signs all over and walk around and protest.”
“You mean as opposed to actually drafting?”
“I’m afraid so. He’s become frighteningly obsessed. I even saw him curled up on the sofa in his office, watching video of Tush Push touchdowns and sucking his thumb and crying. He just kept saying over and over that he wanted Desmond Watson (all 464 pounds of him) in the 1st round. ‘
“Desmond Watson? That’s ridiculous…He’s a UDFA at best!”
“Well, yeah. But he thinks that would be our answer to stopping the Tush Push in case he can’t get it banned.” Said Woj. “We should move on and get this done without him. He’s too preoccupied to notice anyway. By the time he figures it out the draft will be over.”
“Agreed” said Gutekunst. And with that they went to work.
__________________________
APRIL 24, 2025
The Packers come into the draft with 3 clear needs:
Cornerback:
The Pack have lost three CBs so far this year, not counting Jaire Alexander who probably won’t be back.
Defensive Line:
The Pack needs help at both DT and Edge. At DT, Kenny Clark is starting to decline and had his worst statistical season since his rookie year of 2016. Tedarrell Slaton signed with the Bengals. On the edge, other than Rahan Gary, the rest of their guys are mediocre. Lucas Van Ness has not panned out to be what they were hoping…at least not yet. Overall, they just don’t have that beast on the DL, especially on the interior that all great teams have. (God we’re lucky to have Jalen Carter!) But the Pack needs an upgrade.
Wide Receiver
At first glance, this seems wrong. It just seems like the Packers have been drafting receivers on the regular for a while now. And they have. But none of them have turned out to be the big-time playmaker that they’ve needed since Davante Adams left. Let’s look:
Jayden Reed – an exciting playmaker who disappears for multiple games at a time.
Romeo Doubs – has never cracked 700 yards receiving and was suspended by the team for conduct issues
Dontayvion Wicks – Has hands of stone and drops more passes than Nelson Agholor.
Christian Watson – a high 2nd round pick who has missed 13 games in 3 years and is projected to miss at least the first half of next season.
So yeah…receiver is a need as well. If they’re going to pay Jordan Love all that money, he needs to have someone who can catch the ball and make plays consistently.
So the Packers’ plan is simple: Take the BPA at one of these positions. If there are no players that fit the bill for the draft slot, then take BPA.
As the draft progresses, it becomes clear that CB will not be the pick for round one after Travis Hunter, Will Johnson, and Jahdae Barron come off the board Any of the CBs left on the board would be a major reach for someone they could probably get in the 2nd (or 3rd) rounds.
Same for the DL. The guy they (I) REALLY wanted, Kenneth Grant, was sharked by the Chargers one pick before them. Grant is exactly what they need to add to the Dline. But again, this is a deep draft for the DL and they decide they can still get quality on Day 2 or Day 3.
So, after the Chargers take Grant, the Packers are on the board. Amazingly, the BPA is also a wide receiver! So…
With the 23rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select Matthew Golden, Wide Receiver, Texas.
While he makes his way to the podium, here are the details on Mr. Golden:
Size: 6’ 0”, 195 lbs.
40 Time: 4.29!!!
2024 stats: 58 catches, 987 yards, 9TD, 17 yards per catch avg. These numbers would have been higher with a better QB.
Player Comp (as per NFL.com): Chris Olave (but faster)
Player Comp (as per Yahoo): D.J. Moore (but faster)
From NFL Draft Buzz:
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
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
“Look for Golden to come off the board in the middle of the 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. 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.”
Sounds like just the ticket! So as Roger Goodell begins to announce the pick, he is interrupted by a loud scream from all the way in the back of the room. It’s Mark Murphy!
“Nooooooooooo….Golden can’t stop the Tush Push!!!!” Murphy screams over and over as Security swiftly carries him out of the building.
Poll
Do you approve of this pick?
2025 BGN Mock Draft Order
1) Titans (JoeDirtsBarber): Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado2) Browns (kjb304): Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State3) Giants (The Player Formerly Known as Mousecop): Cam Ward, QB, Miami4) Patriots (ReginaldHtower): Will Campbell, OT, LSU5) Jaguars (eaglenomics): Mason Graham, DT, Michigan6) Raiders (dkays): Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State7) Jets (Stick19154): Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State8) Panthers (89Tremaine): Will Johnson, CB, Michigan9) Saints (FierceDisc65): Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia10) Bears (DrprofBubbles): Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia11) 49ers (granthill7): Armand Membou, OT, Missouri12) Cowboys (Be subpar for Ja’Marr): Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas13) Dolphins (thehead92): Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas14) Colts (green1us): Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State15) Falcons (All_Hail_Howie): James Peace Jr., EDGE, Tennessee16) Cardinals (Good Bad Ideas): Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona17) Bengals (ablesser88): Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M18) Seahawks (herbalonius): Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan19) Buccaneers (Hoosinole): Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama20) Broncos (Silverlark60): Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State21) Steelers (Dr.MidnightGreen): Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado22) Chargers (LancGuy): Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan23) Packers (Leo Bedio): Matthew Golden, WR, Texas24) Vikings (krikkebelgium)25) Texans (Aint1stULast)26) Rams (Booth12)27) Ravens (pheebthegoose)28) Lions (Neil Dutton)29) Commanders (Mailata_in_a_Miata)30) Bills (PhilaWolverine)31) Chiefs (niels.rosenquist)32) Eagles (Philly21)
Now it’s time for you to vote for who YOU think should be selected in the 2025 BGN Community Consensus Mock Draft.
Poll
Who should the Packers pick at No. 23 overall?
13%
(9 votes)
17%
(12 votes)
1%
(1 vote)
8%
(6 votes)
2%
(2 votes)
24%
(17 votes)
15%
(11 votes)
11%
(8 votes)
2%
(2 votes)
69 votes total
Vote Now
1) Titans: QB Cam Ward2) Browns: EDGE Abdul Carter3) Giants: WR/CB Travis Hunter4) Patriots: OT Will Campbell5) Jaguars: DT Mason Graham6) Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty7) Jets: OT Armand Membou8) Panthers: CB Will Johnson9) Saints: EDGE Jalon Walker10) Bears: TE Tyler Warren11) 49ers: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.12) Cowboys: WR Tetairoa McMillan13) Dolphins: OT Josh Simmons14) Colts: TE Colston Loveland15) Falcons: EDGE Mykel Williams16) Cardinals: EDGE James Pearce Jr.17) Bengals: EDGE Shemar Stewart18) Seahawks: QB Shedeur Sanders19) Buccaneers: LB Jihaad Campbell20) Broncos: RB Omarion Hampton21) Steelers: QB Jaxson Dart22) Chargers: DT Kenneth Grant23) Packers:
