Why the Lions should draft Matthew Golden with the 28th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, big plays and big savings
The 2025 NFL Draft is next week, and with that in mind, we're going to zero in on the 28th pick and profile some of the players that best fit the Detroit Lions at that pick. Here's who we've covered so far: North Dakota State offensive lineman Grey ZabelTexas A&M edge Nic Scourton We know […]
The 2025 NFL Draft is next week, and with that in mind, we're going to zero in on the 28th pick and profile some of the players that best fit the Detroit Lions at that pick. Here's who we've covered so far:
We know that the Lions are in need of an edge rusher or an interior offensive lineman, but as GM Brad Holmes has reminded us a bunch of times in the last four years, the Lions are not a needs-based drafting team. Although there are some needs attached to this pick.
The Lions do need a receiver, and they want a receiver. But the bigger need here is that the Lions would like to be able to comfortably sign Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch, Kerby Joseph, Jahmyr Gibbs, Sam LaPorta, and Jack Campbell to the huge deals they're all expected to get.
That might mean that the Lions would have to part with someone they don't want to. I know the Jameson Williams trade idea got everyone riled up, but at the end of the day, there's a lot of money saved there if Detroit opts to go with Golden on a rookie deal over paying Williams top-end money.
What do the Lions get out of Golden at 28? It's not just about the 4.29 speed that he showed at the NFL Combine. That's attractive, but he's been considered to be one of the top two receivers in this draft for more reasons than that.
Golden has the big-play ability for sure, but he has that because he's a strong route runner who is really good at tracking the deep ball and making the catch. He's able to get out of his breaks really well and shake off cornerbacks.
He's also consistently gotten better at the things that he was bad at, too. There were concerns with drops in the early part of his time at Texas. He had a drop percentage of 13.3% in 2023 when he was at Houston. In 2024, he cut that in half and had a drop rate of 6.5%. That was a career best, by the way.
Outside of the offense, Golden brings the ability to be a very dangerous return man. He had 285 yards on 16 returns in 2024. With Kalif Raymond going into the final year of his deal, this is going to be a need before you know it.
Final 7 round Detroit Lions mock draft ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft with full UDFA class, everything we’ve learned this offseason leads us to these picks
Here we go, Detroit Lions fans. The 2025 NFL Draft starts tonight, and the time for thinking about scenarios is over. This is our last 7-round mock draft of the year. Since January, we have had our heads buried into this draft. There was the Senior Bowl, Shrine Bowl, the NFL Combine, Pro Days, League […]
