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Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers' rookie Matthew Golden projected to be better WR than Davante Adams
The Green Bay Packers spoke volumes with their 2025 NFL Draft decisions — particularly with the selection of wide receiver Matthew Golden in the first round. Golden marked the first receiver the Packers took in the opening round since 2002, when they drafted Javon Walker. While Walker lasted just four seasons in Green Bay, the expectations for Golden are far greater. The hope is he'll surpass not only Walker but even Davante Adams, the last truly dominant receiver to wear green and gold. Advertisement AtoZ Sports' Wendell Ferreira took a deep dive into grading system from the last 12 draft classes. His findings showed just how highly the Packers view Golden — and how rare this moment is. 'He got a 6.42 grade, which equates to a player who will become a good starter within two years,' Ferreira wrote. 'The only other receiver in this category drafted by the Packers since 2014 is Davante Adams. A second-round pick in 2014, he took a little longer to develop into a great player, but eventually became an elite weapon. Adams had a 6.40 grade.' Adams, now entering his 12th NFL season with the Los Angeles Rams, blossomed into one of the league's most consistent pass-catchers. He narrowly missed 1,000 yards in Year 3, finishing with 997 and 12 touchdowns. From there, he stacked six 1,000-yard seasons playing with the Packers and the Raiders. That's exactly the kind of production the Packers are now banking on from Golden, drafted No. 23 overall. He's being tasked with becoming the WR1 the team has been chasing for years — and the pressure is already on. Advertisement Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp 'Golden's starting-level traits and big leap forward as a go-to playmaker have him primed to become a productive catch-maker with the potential to develop into a WR1 in the future,' scouting report said. Golden's arrival also aims to fix one of the Packers' biggest issues last year: drops. Green Bay's receivers were tied for the league lead with 25. With his elite traits and opportunity, all eyes are now on whether the rookie can live up to the hype. MORE:Matthew Golden projected to fall behind in Packers WR room over concerns tied to Texas stint
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers upgrade their receiving corps by drafting Matthew Golden of Texas
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO/WQRF) — The Packers like their receiving corps, but they understood there was still room for improvement at that position. So, Thursday night they used their first pick in the NFL Draft, the 23rd overall, on Texas wide receiver Matthew caught 58 passes last season for 987 yards and nine touchdowns. He has blazing speed. At the NFL Combine he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 is the first wide receiver taken in the first round of a draft by the Packers since 2002 when they selected Javon Walker. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
New York Times
24-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Green Bay Packers NFL Draft 2025 pick tracker: Grades, fits and scouting reports
The Green Bay Packers enter the 2025 NFL Draft on April 24 with eight picks over the three-day draft. The Packers look to add pieces to a team that went to the playoffs but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round. That could mean finding a true No. 1 receiver for quarterback Jordan Love. They haven't selected a wide receiver in the first round since 2002 (Javon Walker), but Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka and Texas' Matthew Golden are among those who could be considered. Cornerback Jaire Alexander's future could also play a role in decision-making as the position would move to the forefront if the two-time second-team All-Pro is traded. Keep coming back here throughout the draft for grades and analysis of each Packers pick. No. 23 No. 54 No. 87 No. 124 No. 159 No. 198 No. 237 (from Steelers) No. 250 (compensatory)
New York Times
14-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Why the Packers might finally draft a wide receiver in the first round
This could finally be the year the Packers draft a wide receiver in the first round. Everyone and their mother might know the last time it happened because of how often it's been repeated as the streak entered its third decade. Not since Javon Walker with the No. 20 pick in 2002 has Green Bay used a first-round selection on the position. In fact, the only offensive skill position players the Packers have drafted in the first round since then are quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love. Advertisement This trend isn't a product of some decree from atop the food chain at 1265 Lombardi Ave., but rather a pattern that has likely resulted partly from the organizational belief that valuable wide receivers can be found after the first round. Ignoring the position in the opening round has hardly been organizational malpractice, even if Davante Adams could've certainly used a better No. 2 wideout in his final Packers years, because of who they've selected later. Since Walker arrived in Green Bay, so too have Adams, Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Randall Cobb and, more recently, the lesser-proven group of Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks — all in Rounds 2, 3, 4 or 5. Has that track record influenced the Packers' decision to bypass wideouts in the first round for the last 22 drafts? Perhaps, but general manager Brian Gutekunst told The Athletic last summer that before drafting Love in 2020, he tried trading up for a wide receiver (presumably Justin Jefferson or Brandon Aiyuk, both of whom went several picks before Love). The Athletic's Chad Graff also reported during the draft in 2022 that the Packers tried trading into the first round with the Vikings for Watson, but Minnesota declined and Green Bay settled for a second-round trade up instead. 'I will say this: In no time in my 20-some years within this organization, whether it was (former Packers GMs) Ron (Wolf) or Ted (Thompson), did I hear them talk about that as a philosophy,' Gutekunst said earlier this offseason of not taking wideouts in the first round. 'I know Ron talked a lot about being mad he didn't take Randy Moss, you know what I mean? … I don't think we'd ever hesitate to take a receiver in the first round if the right one was there. We certainly talked about it at different times in the last seven years since I've been in this spot, trying to make that happen, so I don't really look at it as a philosophical thing. I will say we've hit on a lot of second-round receivers. There's been a lot of guys that we've taken in that group that have become really, really good players for us. Not only us, but throughout the league.' People who have used this trend as a rationale for Green Bay's Super Bowl drought might be disappointed come next Thursday night, since there are multiple reasons commissioner Roger Goodell could announce a wide receiver as the Packers' first-round pick in Green Bay. Most importantly, the Packers have a pressing need at wide receiver with arguably their most dangerous one, Christian Watson, set to miss at least the first half of the season while recovering from a torn ACL. You could argue they'd still have an immediate need there even if Watson were healthy. The Packers have a handful of solid role players at the position — some of them need to catch the ball far more consistently to retain that title — but an alpha would help Love and the passing game even if Gutekunst has said that one player dominating targets doesn't historically bode well when it comes to the playoffs. Would a first-round rookie become that alpha right away? Maybe not, but ideally for the Packers, that wouldn't take long. Advertisement After running back Josh Jacobs said on radio row at the Super Bowl that he likes the potential of Green Bay's young receivers but that the team needs a proven No. 1 wideout, Gutekunst and head coach Matt LaFleur have said they hope a receiver already on the team grows into that role. The Packers also didn't acquire that proven No. 1 wideout this offseason, increasing the likelihood they take one early in the draft since both the GM and head coach probably aren't that oblivious to their need at the position. 'I feel good about our receiver room,' LaFleur said at the NFL owners meetings while, notably, not hooked up to a lie detector test. 'Obviously, it doesn't help when you lose a guy like Christian Watson, and who knows when we'll get him back? … Those other guys are gonna have to pick up the slack.' Two, it was nice for the Packers to have all four of their top receivers in their first or second seasons, but Watson and Doubs are entering contract years, and Reed and Wicks are set to do the same in 2026. The likelihood is that more than one of them leave in free agency in the coming years. The Packers would be wise to start backloading the position now through the draft, and a player who could grow into a true No. 1 over the next season or two would be ideal. Three, the Packers seem interested in drafting a wide receiver in the first round. Not only did Gutekunst attend pro days at Ohio State and Texas, likely with an eye on the Buckeyes' Emeka Egbuka and the Longhorns' Matthew Golden, but the Packers reportedly brought both players to Green Bay for one of the team's 30 permitted pre-draft visits. ESPN also reported that Gutekunst was the only GM at Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan's private workout last month. McMillan will likely be the first receiver taken after Colorado's Travis Hunter, while Egbuka and Golden are projected first-round picks, too. So if the Packers indeed break their 22-year streak, it'll likely be for one of those three players or Missouri's Luther Burden III. Those are the only four receivers given first- or first/second-round grades by The Athletic's Dane Brugler. Here are his scouting reports on each, in order of how he ranks them. Advertisement On the 6-foot-4 McMillan, who turned 22 this month: 'McMillan is only average in the speed and separation categories, but he is a long and limber athlete with exceptional tracking and ball-winning instincts. He fits the Tee Higgins mold as a unique playmaker because of his size and catch-point skills.' On the 5-foot-11 Golden, who turns 22 in August: 'It might bother some teams that he doesn't have better size, but Golden also doesn't have any glaring flaws to his game that would keep him from becoming a productive pro. He can play inside or outside and become the go-to target for an NFL offense.' On the 6-foot Burden, who turns 22 in December: 'Burden is still working on his undergrad degree in route setup and separation, but he holds a master's in creating with the ball in his hands, because of his explosive speed and competitive toughness. For an NFL team targeting a YAC weapon with upside to be more, he will be an appealing option early.' On the 6-foot Egbuka, who turns 23 in October: 'Egbuka is a very quarterback-friendly target — not because he is bigger, stronger or faster than defenders, but because he understands detailed subtleties to uncover and command the catch point. Though he can line up outside, he would thrive in a Rashee Rice-like slot role, where he can expand a play-calling menu with his diverse skill set.' In Brugler's latest one-round mock draft, McMillan went No. 12, Golden No. 22 and Egbuka No. 26 while Burden was excluded. If the Packers are that sold on McMillan after Gutekunst's visit, would they dare trade up from No. 23 for him with only eight picks to start the draft? Would they have to trade up for any of the other three, too? There's no guarantee the Packers will take one of those four receivers in the first round just because it makes sense. Where they're selecting and what their draft board looks like will ultimately decide. If anything, though, there seems to be a legitimate chance the drought ends when the draft arrives in Green Bay, which would produce quite the scene outside Lambeau Field next Thursday night. (Photo of Emeka Egbuka: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
USA Today
04-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Unpacking Future Packers: No. 23, Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan
The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2025 NFL draft. It's been 84 years since the Green Bay Packers drafted a wide receiver in the first round. Okay, it's only been 23 years since the Packers drafted Javon Walker with the 20th overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft. With a clear need at wide receiver, could this be the year the Packers take a wide receiver in the first round and end the drought? 'I don't think we'd ever hesitate to take a receiver in the first round if the right one was there,' Brian Gutekunst, Green Bay's general manager, said during his media availability at the NFL Scouting Combine. The right one could be there on April 24, and his name is Tetairoa McMillan. The Arizona wide receiver checks in at No. 23 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown. A five-star recruit and former three-sport athlete, McMillan recorded 39 receptions for 702 yards and eight touchdowns during his first season on campus. The following season, McMillan reeled in 90 receptions for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. This past season, McMillan recorded 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns. He finished his career at Arizona with the most receiving yards in program history (3,423). You can't teach McMillan's size (6-4, 219 pounds). With his frame and leaping ability, McMillan has a large strike zone and plays above the rim. Even when he's covered, he's open. He turns 50-50 balls into 100-0 balls and plays with a my-ball mentality. The Wildcat wide receiver outmuscles cornerbacks at the catch point and has outstanding body control. According to Pro Football Focus, he had 35 contested catches the past two seasons. He has strong mitts and great hand-eye coordination. On 130 targets this past season he had seven drops and only had two drops the year prior on 130 targets. "His size, body control and catch radius make him so effective in contested-catch situations," Luke Easterling, an NFL Draft writer for Athlon Sports, said. "That's really his biggest strength, combining all of those traits. He's just a matchup nightmare for most defensive backs at the catch point, which makes him extremely valuable on third downs and in the red zone." With his size, McMillan can be load for defensive backs to get to the ground. He chews up grass quickly with the ball in his hands due to his long strides. According to PFF, McMillan racked up 967 yards after the catch over past two seasons. "He's a long strider who can eat up yards after the catch pretty quickly," Easterling said. "He's shown the vision and awareness to set up a clear path and turn short catches into bigger gains when given the space to work. He's not just a "catch it and go down" guy." McMillan has slick footwork for a man his size. He's a smooth accelerator. He has quick and powerful strides to create separation. There are no wasted movements in his release package or in his route running. Every movement has a purpose. He has a natural feel for finding the soft spots in zone coverage and does a great job of working himself open in scramble drill situations. With his size and athletic background, it's not surprising that McMillan was No. 23 on Bruce Feldman's Annual Freaks list. From Feldman: "McMillan attributes his elite ball skills to his timing. He has become much faster since getting to Arizona, going from 19.8 mph to 21.8 mph in two years of a college strength program. 'T-Mac is probably the biggest freak that I've ever been around,' said Washington's Jedd Fisch, McMillan's former coach at Arizona who spent more than a decade working in the NFL. 'He doesn't have that great a vertical, but it's his coordination that is freakish. He has great hand-eye coordination. He's the best athlete I've ever seen.' Fit with the Packers The Packers have a solid foundation at wide receiver. Jayden Reed is a dynamic playmaker and arguably the best wide receiver currently on the roster, but battled through drop issues during his second year in the league. Dontayvion Wicks creates separation with ease but struggled with drops this past season and is likely better served being a team's No. 3 or No. 4 option. Romeo Doubs is entering the final year of his rookie contract and may not get a second contract in Green Bay. Christian Watons is also entering the final year of his rookie contract and will miss the majority of the season as he recovers from a torn ACL. What the room is lacking is an alpha. They have a room full of sidekicks. What they need is a Batman. With his size, athleticism and hands, McMillan could become the leader of the wide receiver room at 1265 Lombardi Avenue. "I would draft him because there are only so many human beings on the planet with his size and athleticism profile, and most of them play basketball," Easterling said. "If I'm an NFL quarterback, I'd be thrilled to have that guy on the field, especially when it's time to move the chains or put points on the board in the red zone. He's gonna be a constant headache for opposing defensive coordinators." McMillan may not be on the board when the Packers are on the clock with the 23rd overall pick. He's a player who could go in the Top 10, or he could be the third or fourth wide receiver taken and be available when the Packers are on the clock on April 24. A year ago, the Packers drafted Jordan Morgan, a fellow Arizona Wildcat. It marked the first time the Packers drafted an offensive lineman in the first round since 2011. Could another Wildcat end another first-round streak? McMillan checks the boxes with his frame, athletic profile and age (he turns 22 on April 5). If he's still on the board, the Packers could have a bonafide No. 1 wide receiver for Jordan Love.
