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Matthew Golden was an unprecedented pick in recent Green Bay Packers history.
They hadn't chosen a wide receiver in the first round in more than two decades, until Golden in the 2025 NFL Draft.
So that raised his expectations considerably, even within a crowded receiver room.
Golden, though, was mostly quiet as a rookie.
Year two will have to be different. Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks are both gone.
Yes, the Packers gave big extensions this offseason to both Christian Watson and Jayden Reed. That won't stop Golden from stepping into a much bigger role, though.
"After all the buzz about the Packers finally drafting a receiver in the first round last year, Golden made a minimal impact as a rookie," ESPN's Rob Demovsky wrote as part of a new article on Monday. "He didn't catch his first touchdown until the playoff loss to Chicago. With Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks having departed in the offseason, the door is open for Golden to become a bigger part of the offense."
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Demovsky adds that Golden has been a "favorite target" of Jordan Love this offseason.
"I think there's a big step for guys coming into this league going into Year 2, and we expect that to happen," coach Matt LaFleur said, via ESPN. "We've seen a lot of that out on the practice field."
Golden is clearly talented, and the Packers surely want him to grow into a star.
His first season allowed for a lot of learning. Year two should be filled with a lot more doing.
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