Packers' Matt LaFleur 'surprised' $7 million top WR target questioned role for upcoming season

The Green Bay Packers are coming off a season in which they made the playoffs but were eliminated by the team that went on to win the Super Bowl over the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. The Philadelphia Eagles cut Green Bay’s season short, but the upcoming season holds plenty of promise for the Packers.

For now, the Packers have a few things to sort out. There’s clear potential on offense, especially with first-round pick Matthew Golden, who is already generating significant buzz.

“Green Bay wideout Matthew Golden will lead all rookies in receiving yards. I think Golden will outshine Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan in the 2025 season. It's rare for the Packers to take a wide receiver in the first round, and Golden finds himself in an ideal situation with rising quarterback Jordan Love and offensive-minded coach Matt LaFleur. Could Golden be the 2025 version of Brian Thomas Jr.?" Eric Moody said.

Golden’s early impact—and the fact that Green Bay selected him in the first round—has reportedly caused some uncertainty for Jayden Reed regarding his future with the team.

“Packers GM Brian Gutekunst met last week with Jayden Reed’s agent Drew Rosenhaus to clarify the wide receiver’s status in Green Bay after the team drafted Matthew Golden and Savion Williams. The team said it will not affect Reed’s status as its top receiver,” Adam Schefter wrote.

Head coach Matt LaFleur recently addressed Reed’s reported concerns about his standing with the team.

“I gotta say, the first time I saw that, it was a surprise to me because he never once said a word to me,” LaFleur said. “He’s coaching up Matthew Golden— he’s a guy I don’t have to worry about.”

It certainly appears that Green Bay and LaFleur still view the third-year receiver as a key part of the offense. While LaFleur expressed surprise at Reed’s uncertainty, all signs point to him being the Packers’ primary target once again.