Boy, does the city of Green Bay know how to throw a party.
With the NFL Draft being held in Green Bay for the first time ever, the Packers gave the approximately 200,000 fans in attendance an even bigger reason to celebrate late Thursday night.
Green Bay selected wide receiver Matthew Golden of Texas with the 23rd overall pick, sending the locals into an absolute frenzy.
Golden became the first wide receiver taken by the Packers in the first round since 2002, when Green Bay selected Javon Walker.
Packers outgoing president Mark Murphy announced the pick to a delighted audience that went wild after hearing Golden’s name.
“I never felt nothing like it,” Golden said of walking across the stage in front of his now home town fans. “Man, I wish I could go right back out there right now. It was so cool, the energy that the Packers’ fans got. I mean, I could just feel it and I’m just so excited to be here and I’m glad the organization picked me.”
Golden is 5-foot-11, 191 pounds, which isn’t ideal size for the position. But Golden ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds at this year’s NFL Combine, fastest among all the wideouts.
Golden spent two years at Houston, where he caught 38 passes each season. He then transferred to Texas where he had 58 receptions, nine TDs and averaged 17.0 yards per catch last year.
Golden is undersized, but can play outside and in the slot.
“Knowing I can play inside and out. You can move me anywhere,” Golden said at the NFL Combine. “I can get open at any phase, at any level. Just understanding the game and seeing whatever the team wants me to do. I’m reliable on special teams also. So I feel I can change the game in any way.”
Golden also returned kickoffs at both schools, finishing with 28 attempts, a 25.8 average and two touchdowns — both coming with Houston in 2023.
He’ll be a much-needed boost to Green Bay’s mediocre wide receiver group.
“Whenever you need that clutch play, I’m going to be there,” Golden said. “I can make any play that’s coming toward me, and being on the same page with the quarterback at the right time.”
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