Matthew Golden lands on list every young player would rather avoid, but it says everything about Packers’ expectations for him
First-round wide receiver had a quiet rookie season, but the team expects a massive improvement in 2026.
Matthew Golden enters the 2026 season under significant pressure after a quiet rookie campaign with the Green Bay Packers. The first-round wide receiver from Texas, selected 23rd overall in the 2025 NFL Draft, appeared on a list of 10 NFL players under pressure to perform in Year 2 compiled by PFF’s Bradley Locker.
Golden finished his rookie regular season with only 29 receptions, 361 yards, and zero touchdowns in the regular season. With Romeo Doubs now in New England and Dontayvion Wicks traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Packers are banking on Golden’s development as their clear No. 2 outside wide receiver behind Christian Watson heading into a season with Super Bowl aspirations.
Green Bay broke a 23-year hiatus of drafting a wide receiver in the first round when it selected Golden, and the weight of that investment makes his sophomore season even more consequential.
What PFF said about Golden
Locker placed Golden first on the list, and this shows the high-profile aspect of his development for Green Bay.
“When the Packers selected Golden with the 23rd overall pick, Green Bay fans rejoiced that the team had finally added a marquee weapon. Yet Golden’s rookie season didn’t follow suit.
“In the regular season, Golden posted a 68.1 PFF receiving grade and 1.35 yards per route run, which each ranked fifth among 12 rookie receivers to garner 35 or more targets. Although Golden dropping only one pass was a bright spot, he seldom looked like a game-changer — producing only three single-game overall PFF grades above a 70.0, including the playoffs.
“After Romeo Doubs signed with the Patriots and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to the Eagles, Golden is squarely in the crosshairs as Green Bay’s WR2. Considering Christian Watson’s injury history and the Packers’ Super Bowl aspirations, the Texas product will be under tons of attention from opposing cornerbacks and fans alike in 2026 as he looks to rebound.” — Bradley Locker
Context matters for Golden’s numbers
The efficiency numbers look underwhelming at first glance, but they deserve context. Golden’s yards-per-route-run figure suffered largely because he wasn’t targeted with any regularity. When he did receive the ball and had legitimate opportunities, he performed well enough to suggest the talent is there. The sample size from his rookie year is too small to draw definitive conclusions about his ceiling.
The Packers have a well-documented history of developing wide receivers slowly. Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams all had quiet rookie seasons before eventually becoming cornerstone offensive players. Golden’s trajectory could follow a similar path, but the difference is that Green Bay’s current roster construction demands production sooner rather than later.
Golden’s best performance came in the most important of the year. Against the Chicago Bears in the playoffs, he caught four passes on six targets for 84 yards and his first NFL receiving touchdown. That game provided a glimpse of the player the Packers believed they were drafting.
Green Bay’s offense now relies on Watson, Jayden Reed, and Golden to carry a heavier load with more volume. The second-year weapon has a massive opportunity to prove he can be the player the Packers envisioned when they invested a first-round pick in him.