GREEN BAY PACKERS (11-6)
1/23. MATTHEW GOLDEN, WR, Texas (5-11, 192, 4.32)
The assumption has to be that cornerback Will Johnson of Michigan received a troubling medical report (knee, turf toe). Based on talent, he’s a legitimate Top 20 pick even with all the missed time during a three-year career.
Johnson’s name is mentioned here because he would be a perfect fit for Jeff Hafley’s zone coverage scheme. Johnson never ran a 40 and, based on scout evaluations, questions arose about his catch-up speed. Still, in zone or in off man coverage, his instincts to read and react to the football (three pick 6’s) were exquisite.
As it stands now, the Packers figure to start Keisean Nixon and Nate Hobbs outside with Javon Bullard in the slot. Carrington Valentine is the main backup. It’s probable the Packers no longer want Jaire Alexander around. Clearly, there was room for Johnson (6-1 ½, 194).
Hafley’s premium at defensive tackle is on athleticism and penetration, but every system needs one shock absorber. T.J. Slaton played that role fairly well a year ago but now he’s in Cincinnati.
Kenny Clark, their best defensive lineman for almost a decade, has played a ton of snaps. At this point, he’s the Packers’ lone holdup player. Devonte Wyatt, Colby Wooden and Karl Brooks are 3-techniques, not run stuffers.
It’s likely that Tyleik Williams was very much under consideration.
Edge rusher made a lot of sense, too, because Rashan Gary is coming off a down year, Lukas Van Ness hasn’t done much and Kingsley Enagbare is more try-hard than talented. The best rush threat might turn out to be inside backer Edgerrin Cooper on cross blitzes with an occasional foray as a 9-technique on third downs.
Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku made sense here because he had 30 sacks and once played for Hafley. James Pearce and Mike Green were regarded as character risks by some teams.
The Packers will wait until Friday to address the defense with the selection of Golden. The need at wide receiver was high because oft-injured Christian Watson blew out his knee late in the season, Romeo Doubs suffered multiple concussions in 2024 and the wide receiving corps dropped far too many passes.
Golden, according to one scout, might have the finest ball skills of any wideout in the draft. His makeup also was regarded as much more palatable than Tetairoa McMillan and Luther Burden. Another possibility, Emeka Egbuka (6-1, 202, 4.48), went off the board at No. 19.
Based on his one 40 at the combine (4.32 hand held, 4.29 electronic), Golden might have the fastest time of any wideout in Green Bay. After a cursory check, another speedy draftee was David Clowney, a fifth-round pick in 2007 who ran 4.36 but never made it.
Several scouts, however, said it was noticeable that Golden didn’t play as fast as he timed. In other words, he wasn’t a blur.
One scout compared Golden to Tyler Lockett, the former Seahawk who was a third-round pick in 2015. Lockett was 5-10 and 181, and ran 4.35.
Is Golden a better player than Jayden Reed (5-10 ½, 189, 4.47), the Packers’ second-round choice in 2023?
“He’s got better ball skills than Reed,” one executive said. “More of an outside player than Reed. Reed’s more of a slot. Reed’s more of a twitchy route runner, more of a ball carrier. Different players. He’s as good as Reed, and potentially could be better.”
Golden is smaller than most of the team’s leading receivers in modern history. That group (all measurables pre-draft) would include Donald Driver (5-11 ½, 181, 4.48), Davante Adams (6-1, 214, 4.55), Sterling Sharpe (5-11 ½, 201, 4.52), Jordy Nelson (6-2 ½, 218, 4.54), Randall Cobb (5-10, 191, 4.47), James Lofton (6-3, 187, 4.40), Antonio Freeman (6-0, 195, 4.60), Greg Jennings (5-11, 198, 4.42), James Jones (6-0 ½, 207, 4.54), Robert Brooks (6-0, 175, 4.60) and Robert Ferguson (6-1, 202, 4.53).
The last time the Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round was in 2002 when coach-GM Mike Sherman selected Javon Walker (6-2 ½, 210, 4.41) with the 20th pick.
One reason GM Ron Wolf emphasized size at all positions during his nine years (1992-2000) in charge was wintry, windy conditions and the old grass playing surface at Lambeau Field.
Despite Golden’s dimensions, scouts said he projected as an outside receiver in addition to the slot.