Matthew Golden Must Give Green Bay Packers 'Reliable Deep Threat' in 2025, Says Analyst

“He was thrown some horrible footballs from [Texas QB] Quinn Ewers,” Kimes said of Golden’s performance with the Longhorns, “and he made him right a lot.”

The Packers drafted Golden 23rd overall hoping he can bring that same transformative skillset to the pros, receiving throws from an NFL quarterback.

Citing their offensive limitations last year and Love’s throwing tendencies, Kimes believes Golden can make a big difference. “I do feel like Matthew Golden is going to be a pivot point for the Packers this season.”

Golden Doesn’t Have To Play WR1, Just Fill Crucial Role

Even with Watson healthy, the Packers’ passing game lapsed into a funk at times, and not because Love just wasn’t good enough. He simply didn’t have a full complement of weapons. Kimes continued:

One thing they really needed at the end was a reliable deep threat. And I say reliable because it’s not just about speed and getting open, which Christian Watson is really the only guy on this team who you kind of trust in that regard, but also not dropping the football. The Packers receiving group had the highest drop rate in the NFL.

Golden himself was not known for having sticky hands in college, noted Kimes, but she isn’t convinced he will struggle with drops in the NFL. “Perhaps most importantly, he was just a big play machine. He had 13 catches over 20 yards, which is the eighth-most of any player in college football.”

This big-play ability is the element of his game that the Packers should be most focused on, and the factor that will determine whether the offense can reach its ceiling.

“If Golden can become the explosive deep threat that I think they hoped he would be when they drafted him, I’m feeling pretty good about this offense.”

There has been plenty of talk about whether he can be Love’s number one target, but in Kimes’ opinion, that narrative is missing the point.

“You don’t need a dominant receiver. You need receivers with dominant traits. Receivers who have distinct roles, where if you encounter a problem – a team that takes away the middle of the field, a team that constricts you, a team that plays a lot of man coverage – you have a guy who’s an answer for that.”