The Green Bay Packers shocked the NFL world, and perhaps their own fans most of all, when they selected wide reiver Matthew Golden with the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With Christian Watson sidelined, presumably, for the start of the season due to a torn ACL suffered in Week 18 of last season, many expected the Packers to take a wide receiver early.
However, as Mark Murphy noted when he announced Golden’s selection, Green Bay had not drafted a wide receiver in the first round since 2002 (Javon Walker). Over the past two-plus decades, there have been many pass catchers fans have been enamored with, hoping that the Packers with, only to see them passed over for a different position of need.
The Injury to Christian Watson Was Not the Only Reason the Green Bay Packers Drafted Matthew Golden
As mentioned, Watson’s injury and, therefore, his presumed inability to start the season healthy, played a factor in the Packers’ decision to choose a wide receiver in the first round. However, there were other reasons as well.
Even though Green Bay fans frequently criticize Watson for being prone to drops, the fact of the matter is that he was, by far, the most sure-handed wide receiver they had last season.
Watson had a drop percentage of just 3.8% after dropping just two passes last season. Romeo Doubs dropped seven passes for a drop rate of 9.7%, Jayden Reed dropped nine passes for a drop rate of 12.0%, and Dontayvion Wicks had nine drops and an 11.8% drop percentage.
Therefore, the addition of Golden, and Savion Williams in the third round, should be viewed as a message to the rest of the room that their performance simply was not good enough.
Green Bay Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst Met with Jayden Reed’s Agent
On Monday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on X (formerly Twitter) that Green Bay general manager Brian Gutekunst met with Drew Rosenhaus, the agent of Jayden Reed, after the draft to clarify that the Packers still view his client as their top wide receiver:
As a rookie in 2023, Reed led the Packers with 63 receptions and 793 receiving yards. He led the team in both categories last year as well, with 55 receptions for 857 yards.
It is unclear whether the meeting took place because Reed was concerned about his role. However, the post seems to indicate that Gutekunst was just being proactive and upfront with the players already on his roster.
Indeed, Reed is Green Bay’s best wide receiver right now, and could become part of a dangerous duo if Golden turns out to be as good as the Packers hope he will.
