Cory's Corner: A Golden First Round Pick
When a rookie has the best camp among all the players, that's a big statement about what kind of a player and person he already is.
He easily had the best camp.
His athleticism jumped off the page and his catching ability was on full display.
He was the first wide receiver to be taken in the first round by the Packers in 23 years.
Of course, I’m talking about Matthew Golden. The University of Texas standout had 58 catches for 987 yards and nine touchdowns last year. He also returned 14 kickoffs.
Golden stuck out right away because of his ability to run sticky routes. It’s almost as if there’s a railroad track under his feet because he effortlessly makes breakneck turns, which leaves his defender in the dust.
“We get to some of those third downs when people are trying to mug us up and you need someone to get open fast, he can do that,” said Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst after making the pick.
Now I know, you don’t want to put the cart before the horse — especially in preseason. The defenses are playing vanilla and don’t want to show anything. But at the same time, there’s a reason why Golden has earned the nickname “Bullet.”
But it’s not just his legs that have caught the eye of the Packers in camp.
“He’s got some of the most natural hands I’ve been around in my whole career,” said Packers coach Matt LaFleur.
Some people have already started to compare Golden to Greg Jennings, which is a lot because Golden hasn’t played in a game that matters yet.
The Packers have had plenty of solid receivers over the years. But Golden has all the tools. He’s fast, he’s got the hands, he has a great attitude and has that thirst to get better. That’s exactly what the Packers want and it might be why we will spot Jordan Love chuckling to himself when he sees Golden all by himself.
The thing the Packers needed was someone that could consistently get open on their own. Granted, LaFleur does a good job of scheming guys open with motion and play-action, but when the Packers need a catch in a big spot, they are going to need a wideout to beat their man.
“Man, I think he’s shown up since Day 1 and just really shown his play style, shown what he’s all about," said Packers quarterback Jordan Love. “He came in really polished and has been making plays since Day 1. He’s got very aggressive hands, he’s a smooth route runner, he’s got speed. So I think for him, it’s just continuing to understand the playbook and wrap his head around everything we have in.”
Now, does that mean that Golden will be WR1?
With this wide receiver group, it truly doesn’t matter.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (5)
LambeauPlain
August 23, 2025 at 07:26 am
The Golden Child, Golden "Number 1", Goldfingers, King Midas...and Bullet: The Man with the Golden Guns. (Nixon said Matthew has incredibly strong hands, arms, & upper body)
There is no doubt he has great skills and as a rookie there are some similarities to a Rookie Jennings. Smooth routes and quick sudden breaks and catches his targets. Jennings had many more snaps and caught a lot more balls in college to hone his skills. But Matthew nonetheless looks technically sound...and runs 2 clicks faster.
I liked this analogy from Cory: " It’s almost as if there’s a railroad track under his feet because he effortlessly makes breakneck turns." Have seen this on his college tape and in Training Camp. If his routes don't get initial separation, his cuts and misdirection do.
However, he is a rookie and some rather good NFL CBs await to put him to the test. While I was hoping for a stud DL in the first round, Matthew Golden was still a valuable Investment that should return excellent ROI.
GregC
August 23, 2025 at 12:19 pm
Usually Cory makes odd analogies. He surprised me with the railroad track analogy, because it's really good. And Golden is very reminiscent of Greg Jennings--not as productive as Jennings in college, but he played against much better competition, on one of the best teams in college football, whereas Jennings played at Western Michigan University. Golden looked NFL ready by the end of his college career, and he's continued to look the part in training camp. He needs the season to start, like, yesterday.
Coldworld
August 23, 2025 at 08:21 am
WRs often look good in camp and preseason. This year, with the injuries, it’s been easy for Golden to stand out even more as Reed, Williams and Wicks who might well be expected to make the most spectacular plays have mostly been out. I’m excited by Golden, but not about loading him with expectations or over exaggeration. I hope we get others back and don’t have to load expectations and hopes too heavily on a rookie, however exciting.
Leatherhead
August 23, 2025 at 10:49 am
If Golden just stays healthy, practices, catches the ball, and doesn't turn it over, he's going to have a very good season, and so are the Packers. Everybody (who matters) can be happy. Not the rest of the division, of course.
Teams should have to stop Jacobs/Wilson, Reed, and Kraft before they get a chance to stop Golden or Musgrave or Doubs. He doesn't have to carry the weight of the offense, he doesn't have to carry the weight of the passing game. He needs to stay healthy, practice, and catch the ball....everything else will flow from that.
LeotisHarris
August 23, 2025 at 01:50 pm
Matthew surely seems to have a golden opportunity to strike gold with the green and gold if he can follow the golden path and cash in his golden ticket to find the golden mean. This golden child with a heart of gold is certainly worth his weight in gold and has the golden touch fans have been waiting for since Jevon Walker was selected in the first round in 2002.
While Matthew as a ways to go to equal the status of Packers' Golden Boy, Paul Hornung, he has found his golden goose to take him comfortably into his golden years without the need for a golden parachute. They say silence is golden, but in Green Bay there's no longer a need for golden oldies because number 22 has the golden key.