Packers first-round pick aims to buy his grandmas home back

Wes Hodkiewicz

GREEN BAY From an athletic standpoint,Matthew Goldenhas it all.

The Texas receiver bested all his contemporaries at the NFL Scouting Combine in February after running a 4.29 in the 40 with a 1.49 10-yard split, a reflection of the explosiveness that contributed to Golden averaging 17.0 yards per catch last year.

But that's not what made Golden worthy of becoming the first receiver the Packers have drafted in the first round in 23 years.

It's the man who has battled and overcome his share of adversity in his brief 21 years and the grandson who vowed to buy his grandmother the house that was taken from his family a few years ago.

After President/CEO Mark Murphy announced Golden as the 23rd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft on Thursday night, the 5-foot-11, 191-pound wideout is now in position to do just that.

"That's the house I grew up in when I was younger," said Golden, who told media before the draft the home is on the market. "Just knowing that I'm in the position to be able to get that back for all my family my little cousins that grew up there just for everybody to go back home, just feel that energy."

It's been a long journey for Golden from his hometown of Houston to Green Bay, a city he first became familiar with during a pre-draft visit with the Packers earlier this month.

The meeting was educational for player and personnel department alike. It's where General Manager Brian Gutekunst gained a deeper appreciation for the person behind the electric wideout who tormented the SEC last season.

A star at Klein Cain High School in Houston, Golden chose to play his first two college seasons at his hometown school before joining a rising Texas powerhouse under Steve Sarkisian.

It proved to be a prudent decision on Golden's part. In his lone season in Austin, Golden led the Longhorns with 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

He saved his best football for last, too. Golden caught eight passes for 162 yards in the SEC Championship Game against Georgia before hauling in seven catches for 149 yards and a touchdown in a thrilling 39-31, double-overtime win over Arizona State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.

"In critical situations, I always showed up," Golden said. "When our back was against the wall, they could count on me to come out with a big play, and that's something I kept doing continuously. Coming here, that's definitely the same mindset I'm bringing to make big plays and come out here and win games."

The Packers didn't enter Thursday feeling as though they needed to take a receiver in the first round or replace any speed at the position after losingChristian Watsonto a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the regular-season finale against Chicago.

However, Golden's ability to play outside and inside paired with his innate ball skills made him too good pass up, even when Gutekunst's phone started to ring with teams calling to inquire about trading up into the No. 23 slot.

Golden has special teams chops, too. He ran back two of his nine total kickoffs for a touchdown during his 2023 season at Houston.

When asked about his takeaway from the pre-draft visit with Golden, Gutekunst offered two words to describe the young wideout: "Authentic" and "genuine."

"I just think this kid wants to be great. He wants to win," Gutekunst said. "He's been chasing this thing. He's had adversity in his life, and he's come out the other side of it and the odds were probably stacked against him a little bit."

Golden was one of the 15 prospects who chose to come to Green Bay for this year's draft. As fate would have it, Golden wound up bumping into Gutekunst this week after the two intersected on radio row.

The two shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. For Golden, the chance encounter felt like destiny.

"Once I shook his hand, something just told me they finna come get me," Golden said. "When I came on my visit up here and got around the coaching staff, it was remarkable. Definitely a great organization. I'm so happy to be here and just get ready to go to work."

Immune to the pressure that comes with being a first-round pick, Golden said he's eager to get going. On his Zoom call with Green Bay media, Golden joked about walking over from the parking lot to get in his first workout as a member of the Packers.

He also expressed his excitement to catch passes from third-year starting quarterback Jordan Love, who ranked second in the NFL last season with 12 passes for 40-plus yards.

"Talented quarterback who can get out of the pocket and make plays; damn sure can throw the ball," Golden said. "I'm letting him know as soon as I see him, man, you got a reliable target. You can trust me. Trust is built over time, going out there and competing and gaining everyone's trust, that's where it first starts."

While he got a quick introduction to the community during his pre-draft visit, Golden appreciated how draft week allowed him to get more familiar with Packers fans.

Wearing a suit fittingly accented with gold, the young wideout walked across the draft stage to a huge ovation from the vocal majority of Packers fans among the 205,000 total in attendance.

Making the moment even more special was the fact Golden's grandmother and many family members were there with him. As Golden transitions to the NFL, he says that foundation will only continue to drive his performance on the field.

"Before my great-grandma died, she always wanted one of her grandsons to make it to the NFL," Golden said. "I'm the last one standing and I made it, so I know she's proud of me."

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