Texas star receiver Matthew Golden gains traction to stay in-state with ideal landing spot in latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Matthew Golden was only in Austin for one season, but the transfer addition from Houston made the most of his opportunities with the Longhorns. He broke out with a career year, totaling 987 yards and nine touchdowns despite having to recover from a torn ACL from the year prior. Now, with the 2025 NFL Draft […]
Matthew Golden was only in Austin for one season, but the transfer addition from Houston made the most of his opportunities with the Longhorns. He broke out with a career year, totaling 987 yards and nine touchdowns despite having to recover from a torn ACL from the year prior.
Now, with the 2025 NFL Draft only six weeks away, Golden might have the chance to stay within the state of Texas. The top playmaker in Steve Sarkisian's offense has been rising in recent weeks, and his display of speed and fluidity at the combine boosted him even more.
Tyler Forness of A to Z Sports mocked Golden 12th overall to the Dallas Cowboys in his latest projections. Here's what Forness wrote about the decision:
The first big surprise of the mock draft. Golden wowed everyone with a 4.29 second 40-yard dash. With Jeanty off the board, Jerry Jones takes an electrifying pass catcher in Golden who gets to stay in state.
Three receivers were taken before the 12th pick, and that doesn't include Travis Hunter. Golden, who has major momentum right now amongst evaluators, would be a tremendous option for Dallas, even if it's not been a link commonly made.
The Cowboys desperately need more playmaking, and the case can be made that Golden is the best option to pair with CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. As good as Tetairoa McMillan and Luther Burden III are, Golden has the edge with outright speed and the ability to play several various alignments.
With nearly 70% of his targets converted, Golden showcased his versatility, smooth route-running skills, after-the-catch abilities, speed, and reliability in contested situations. He represents a high-value asset who can make immediate contributions to any offense.
Golden's exceptional route-running and ability to generate separation are rooted in his excellent footwork and meticulous attention to detail. His nuanced movements enhance his athleticism. He has shown explosiveness in his gameplay, recording 26 forced missed tackles against only 14 drops over 202 targets throughout three seasons.
His reliability and productivity have remained consistent regardless of his role or the offensive scheme, and his time at Texas saw him operating out of the slot more frequently than before.
While Emeka Egbuka stands as a more proven version of Golden in this class, both Golden and Tre Harris are prominent figures in the second tier of receiving talents before the gap widens at the position.
An early rush on receivers could potentially propel Golden towards the end of the first round, especially after his back-to-back games with 166 yards against Georgia followed by a 149-yard performance against Arizona State, which are crucial highlights of his rising momentum.
