Sterling Sharpe set a high bar in Green Bay. In just seven seasons, he caught 595 passes for 8,134 yards—third in franchise history—and his 65 touchdown receptions still rank second all-time for the Packers. His rookie year in 1988 was a strong debut, leading the team with 55 catches for 791 yards. Now, for the first time since 2002, the Packers have used a first-round pick on a wide receiver, and Matthew Golden has a real chance to deliver the most impactful rookie season at the position since Sharpe.
Explosiveness and reliability: Golden brings what Green Bay needs
Golden enters the league with one clear strength: big plays. He averaged 17 yards per catch last season and led the FBS with 23 receptions of 20+ yards. His 4.29-second 40-yard dash was the second-fastest at the Combine and backs up his deep-threat potential. That speed and explosiveness are exactly what Green Bay’s offense lacked, especially with Christian Watson recovering from a torn ACL.
But Golden’s game isn’t just about speed. What separated him in the 2025 draft was his hands. The Packers, who ranked 27th in the NFL last season with 29 drops, viewed Golden as having arguably the best hands in the draft. He dropped just four passes last year—good for a 6.5% drop rate—and hauled in 11 of 18 contested targets, per Pro Football Focus. His ability to consistently secure the ball in traffic gives Jordan Love a reliable target when things get tight.
Love has already taken notice. “The routes he's running, the things he's doing, he looks very smooth,” Love said. “He's got great hands. Great body control, all those things.” Golden's ability to track the ball, adjust mid-air, and stay in phase with his route makes him a dangerous weapon from day one.
Golden is expected to start immediately and should be a go-to option for Love, particularly on deep routes—posts, corners, and go balls. Green Bay needs a playmaker, and Golden has the tools to be exactly that. If he stays healthy and picks up the offense quickly, he’s got a real shot to put up numbers that rival, or even surpass, Sharpe’s standout rookie season.