No. 24 — Matthew Golden

The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way.

Overall, though, no one in the building was happy.

The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.

Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building.

“We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,” Gutekunst said. “I think it’s time we started competing for championships.”

Those are fair expectations.

The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move.

“I think they’re ready,” Gutekunst said.

Now, it’s time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right.

Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2025 campaign.

At No. 24 is rookie wide receiver Matthew Golden.

No. 24

Matthew Golden, WR

Last season

Golden spent two years at Houston, where he caught 38 passes each season. He then transferred to Texas in 2024 where he had 58 receptions, nine TDs and averaged 17.0 yards per catch for a Longhorns team that reached the College Football Playoff Final 4.

From the midway point of the season, Golden became the biggest playmaker on the Longhorns’ dynamic offense.

“Once they kind of realized what they had, then it just kind of took off,” Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Golden’s production.

Golden also returned kickoffs at both schools, finishing with 28 attempts, a 25.8 average and two touchdowns — both coming with Houston in 2023.

Golden then ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds at this year’s NFL Combine, fastest among all the wideouts.

Outlook

Green Bay’s returning wideouts failed to make the jump in 2024 that many believed they would. The Packers also lost Christian Watson — their top deep threat — to a torn ACL in Week 18, an injury that’s likely to sideline him much of 2025.

So the door is wide open for Golden to have a big role in Green Bay’s offense this season.

Golden’s 40-yard dash time is the fastest in team history. He has the ability to play all three receiver spots. And when Green Bay opens training camp on July 23, Golden is likely to begin with the No. 1 offense.

“I think because of the high school football and the way they throw it around, the 7-on-7s, and just some of the things have changed on the lower levels, guys are coming in and making an impact quicker,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “And I certainly think Matthew has the opportunity to do that.”

The 5-foot-11, 191-pound Golden is at the Packers’ ‘Mendoza line’ for wide receivers — meaning that’s the shortest they can be. While Golden is undersized, though, Green Bay believes he can play both outside and in the slot thanks to his other physical gifts.

“I will say with the way (coach) Matt (LaFleur) and his staff are able to kind of be creative and use these guys, that gives me a lot of flexibility with what I’m looking at, too,” Gutekunst said. “They do such a good job with scheming some of these guys and using them to their best ability. It does make it easier for me so we don’t feel like we have to do this or we have to do that, that Matt and his staff will find a way to make these guys productive.”

They Said It …

“You can’t coach 4.29, or whatever they had him at. Anytime a guy is breaking sub 4.3s, you know he’s legitimately fast. I think what’s so attractive about a guy like Golden is not only is he fast, but he’s got, I’d say elite hands.” — Packers coach Matt LaFleur on Golden

“Golden? Yeah. Like him. Like him. Looks fast. Yeah. We’ll see. Once we get out there, obviously, OTAs, you’ll get a feel for him but I’m really excited to see how we progress through training camp and all that stuff the plays he’s going to make. I’m fired up about it.” — Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich on Golden

“He’s going to be a speed threat right away. He is one of those guys that covering him from a man perspective is going to be extremely tough on teams. So when we get to some of those third-down things where people are trying to mug us up and we need somebody to get open fast, he can do that.” — Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst on Golden

“I definitely understand the game so well to where I can tempo my routes so where I don’t have to run full speed and I just know where my breaking points need to be, wherever the defender is. I got a lot in my game. I could play inside, play out. I could also take the top off, so whatever the team needs me to do, I’m definitely that guy they need to do that.” — Golden on what he can bring to Green Bay’s offense

THE TOP 30

• No. 30 — RB MarShawn Lloyd

• No. 29 — WR Dontayvion Wicks

• No. 28 — S Javon Bullard

• No. 27 — WR Savion Williams

• No. 26 — LB Isaiah McDuffie

• No. 25 — OL Jordan Morgan