Earlier this week, the Green Bay Packers hosted Texas Longhorn receiver Matthew Golden on a pre-draft Visit. Obviously, this indicates that the Packers have some interest in the 4.29 forty wideout. This is great and all, but according to most NFL Draft experts, Golden will go in the first round.
This is simply something the Packers just don’t do. They haven’t drafted a first round receiver since 2002 and in what could be considered a lack-luster wide receiver draft, this seemingly will continue.
What I mean by this is the NFL Draft would have to absolutely fall perfectly for the Packers to draft a receiver in the first round. This is due to several different reasons:
NFL Draft – Different Types of Receivers
It’s easy to say that Green Bay needs a receiver or two, but honestly that’s a loaded statement. Wide receiver is a singular position title in the NFL but there are different position types for receivers.
So, what are the different types or receiver positions? This isn’t the end all, be all for the different receiver positions (they can change per team, but typically there is an X receiver, a Z receiver, and a slot receiver). For the most part there are three types of receivers however there are even different types of slot receivers. Jayden Reed and Wes Welker are completely different types of slot receivers.
Last season, the Packers three starting receivers were Christian Watson as the X wideout, Romeo Doubs as the Z receiver, and Jayden Reed as the slot guy.
The X position is usually your deep threat, while the Z is your versatile, can-play-all-over-the-field guy. The slot, of course, plays closer to the line of scrimmage and plays over the middle of the field.
Do the Packers Have a Need at the Position?
So, does Green Bay have a need at wide receiver? Yes and no. For the coming season, they still have players for the X, Z, and slot positions on the roster. However, Christian Watson may not be back until week 12 or week 13 and more than likely, he won’t be back to his full self until after the 2025 season.
I think it would be unreasonable to think he would be 100% from the moment he is allowed back. And of course, it is a contract year for Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs and if I were to guess, one of the two won’t be on the roster in 2026.
So, yes! There is a need at the position. But is there a player available in the first round that could fit their need at the wideout position? That’s the question that only the Packers know, and it seems to be Matthew Golden.
NFL Draft – Why Matthew Golden?
There are three receivers who are constantly ranked as first round possible receivers. Daniel Jeremiah has them ranked on his top 50 as the following: 16. Matthew Golden, 17. Emeka Egbuka, 18. Tetairoa McMillan. Those are the three who are possible in the first round.
If you break them down further, they are each different receiver types. Tetairoa McMillan is a Z receiver, and Emeka Egbuka is a slot. Matthew Golden is a little different though. Golden’s play in college was more of a Z receiver but at the NFL Combine, he ran a blazing fast forty-yard time of 4.29, showing that he can be an X guy too even though he is a little shorter at 5’11”.
There is literally only one guy possible that fits the needs the Packers have and that’s Golden. Think about it: Watson is out until later in the season and Golden can fit the need of a deep threat with that high-end speed.
But it goes beyond that. The Packers are likely having to choose between Doubs and Watson next offseason. Having Golden gives them flexibility in who they keep because Golden can play the X or the Z. If Doubs leaves, then Golden could possibly fill that hole. If Watson leaves, then Golden can continue to play the X.
So, Does the 23-Year Drought End?
If I were to guess, no. The first round wide receiver drought will continue. There is only the one guy who fits the wide receiver need the Packers have, and he will likely be gone by the time the Packers pick. And even if Matthew Golden is available at 23, Brian Gutekunst will likely choose an edge defender, cornerback, or defensive tackle over a receiver in the first round.
I guess we’ll find out in Green Bay on April 24th!
Go Pack Go!
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Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
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