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Why Matthew Golden was worth Packers ending crazy 1st-round WR draft streak

The Green Bay Packers' first-round wide receiver drought had to end sometime.

That sometime ended up being late April 2025. That's when they chose Matthew Golden in the first round to be their leading WR of the future.

It ended a streak that had lasted longer than Aaron Rodgers' lengthy Packers tenure.

And it sent a message about what Green Bay hopes its passing game can be with Jordan Love.

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How long was Packers' 1st-round WR draft streak?

The Green Bay Packers had last chosen a wide receiver in the first round in 2002. That meant for 22 consecutive drafts, the Packers didn't take a WR in round one.

The last wideout they took in the first round was Javon Walker in 2002.

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Why did the Packers make Matthew Golden a first-round WR?

The Green Bay Packers felt that Matthew Golden was worth a first-round pick after for so many years they hadn't found a WR to their liking in the 20-something slot they were usually picking in.

The Packers took Golden with the No. 23 overall pick out of Texas.

Green Bay had taken plenty of talented second-round WRs: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Christian Watson and Jayden Reed.

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But in Golden, the Packers found a polished wideout with great hands who can immediately operate as a WR1-type of player.

In college between Houston and Texas, Golden was a star.

Golden caught 134 passes for 1,975 yards and 22 touchdowns in his college career. In his only season at Texas to cap his NCAA time, he had 58 catches for 987 yards and nine TDs.

And Golden knew on the day of the draft it was a special move.

"Yeah, it definitely means a lot more," Golden said. "It's always been a dream of mine to go in the first round, and to know that they haven't picked a receiver since 2002, man, it's truly a blessing."