All-Rookie Team projections are already overlooking Matthew Golden, and it might not take long for that to change

The Green Bay Packers haven't had a wide receiver making the All-Rookie Team since Greg Jennings did it back in 2006. But they hadn't drafted a player at the position in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002, so you can understand why even though they've had excellent pass-catchers, they wouldn't have immediate impact.

Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and Davante Adams all became really good players, but that happened down the road in their careers. Now, the Packers have an opportunity to build something special around Matthew Golden. But NFL Network isn't betting too much on it.

Writer Gennaro Filice made a projection for the All-Rookie Team, and there isn't a single Packers player on it. Ok, Travis Hunter is a fine option being the second overall pick. But the other wide receiver on the projection is Kyle Williams, a third-round pick from the New England Patriots.

"Williams is indeed a fun watch, exhibiting the kind of dynamism and swagger that lead you to believe he can make a smooth transition to the league. The 22-year-old still needs to refine the finer points of his game -- eliminating concentration drops and polishing his route-running -- but there’s a lot of reason to believe he could wind up as a third-round steal who significantly nurtures the growth of Drake Maye." — Gennaro Filice.

The point here is the premise that Kyle Williams will have a bigger role, since the Patriots lack options at the position. However, it's hard to believe that a third-round rookie will have more targets than established players like Stefon Diggs and DeMario Douglas from the get go. Eventually he may become the top option, but it's difficult to imagine a high-end production so early for a mid-rounder.

While the Packers do have more options and there's a natural tendency from Matt LaFleur to divide targets around the players. But after an underwhelming production from the receiving group in 2024, Green Bay added Golden planning that he could immediately help.

"The world has changed a little bit, it (used to take) receivers a little bit of time to get going, it used to be like that, and then in Year 2, or middle of Year 3, when things slowed down for them and they could really produce," general manager Brian Gutekunst said after selecting Golden. "We've had a lot of history with that. Because of the high school football, the way they throw it around, seven-on-sevens, and some of the things that have changed at the lower levels, guys are coming in and making an impact quicker. I certainly think that Matthew has the opportunity to do that."

If the choice over Golden would have been a player like Tetairoa McMillan, who's a higher pick and without much target competition on the Carolina Panthers, that would be more reasonable. But taking a third-rounder over what Golden can be as a rookie is, well, questionable.