Former Texas Longhorns WR Matthew Golden breaks odd streak that stretches over two decades during 2025 NFL Draft

Former Texas Longhorns wide receiver Matthew Golden broke an odd NFL streak that stretches over two decades on night one of the 2025 NFL Draft. 

The Green Bay Packers selected Golden with the No. 23 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. It's the first time since 2002 that Green Bay that has selected a wide receiver in the first round of the draft (the Packers selected Javon Walker with the No. 20 overall pick in 2002). 

Green Bay, perhaps enticed by Golden's elite speed (he ran a 4.29 in the 40-yard dash), simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to give quarterback Jordan Love an elite playmaker. 

Golden, 6-foot/190 lbs from Houston, TX, spent the first two seasons of his career at Houston before transferring to Texas ahead of the 2024 season. 

The former four-star recruit caught 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns during his lone season at Texas. Golden's best game of the season came in the SEC Championship game against Georgia, when he caught eight passes for 162 yards (Golden also had a big performance against Arizona State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, catching seven passes for 149 yards and a touchdown). 

Green Bay, a franchise that has passed on a plethora of talented wide receivers in the first round over the last 20-plus years, clearly views Golden as a potentially elite NFL player.