Why Matthew Golden was the Right Pick

[Deputy Nutz]

Golden was the right pick, although I personally think he is a little on the smaller side and his route running still needs development. He does a really nice job of adjusting to the ball when it is in the air. He has fantastic body control especially catching the ball in tight space and along the sideline. His hands are fantastic and has the ability to make circus type catches. He doesn't let the proximity of defenders interfere with his focus on catching the ball. Most importantly he has speed that is of the elite level. I would like to see him have better burst after catch, it's sort of like he needs to find openings before he can really get going, he might lack some instincts in that department.

Why was he the right pick? I think the tiers at the other need position were still stacked with talented players. Whether that was at defensive tackle, and edge. At positions like corner and especially with Will Johnsons medicals there weren't any players available that warranted the 23rd selection in this draft. I don't think the Packers were going to take an offensive lineman in the first round, but there was a significant run on them earlier in the draft. Golden was the last receiver left in my Tier 1 group of receivers.

[MadtownPacker]

A different camera angle of when the pick was announced:

[QBME]

Golden was the right pick, although I personally think he is a little on the smaller side and his route running still needs development. He does a really nice job of adjusting to the ball when it is in the air. He has fantastic body control especially catching the ball in tight space and along the sideline. His hands are fantastic and has the ability to make circus type catches. He doesn't let the proximity of defenders interfere with his focus on catching the ball. Most importantly he has speed that is of the elite level. I would like to see him have better burst after catch, it's sort of like he needs to find openings before he can really get going, he might lack some instincts in that department.

Why was he the right pick? I think the tiers at the other need position were still stacked with talented players. Whether that was at defensive tackle, and edge. At positions like corner and especially with Will Johnsons medicals there weren't any players available that warranted the 23rd selection in this draft. I don't think the Packers were going to take an offensive lineman in the first round, but there was a significant run on them earlier in the draft. Golden was the last receiver left in my Tier 1 group of receivers.

Thanks
As an admitted know-nothing draft wise I kinda lean on the Packerrats folks to do my thinking for me. Some who seem to actually know what they're speaking of.
So, sigh of relief. I hope the kid has a positive attitude and is willing to work and learn.
Maybe even light a fire under the asses of Messrs. Reed and Wicks.

[run pMc]

Why was he the right pick? I think the tiers at the other need position were still stacked with talented players. Whether that was at defensive tackle, and edge. At positions like corner and especially with Will Johnsons medicals there weren't any players available that warranted the 23rd selection in this draft. I don't think the Packers were going to take an offensive lineman in the first round, but there was a significant run on them earlier in the draft. Golden was the last receiver left in my Tier 1 group of receivers.

Agree with this. At the end of the day, he was probably the last guy in a tier appropriate for the pick. BPA at a position of need. Agree he's a little small and routes and YAC need improvement. Some are calling him an almost-Chris Olave, which isn't bad tbh.
GB is going to have decisions to make with the Watson & Doubs contracts expiring this year, and Reed/Wicks after next season, and Kraft is gonna get PAID too. Good to refresh the pipeline of receivers.

Khalil Shakir got 4/60, what do you think these guys will want? Average-to-good players are now getting good-to-great-level player contracts, and that's from their own teams. Might as well keep drafting.

[bobblehead]

I'll be honest. I hate this pick. I like the draft overall, but when you botch the 1st, can it be a great draft?? He doesn't even fit the theme of physicality that we seem to have gone with all offseason and in the other parts of the draft. Did we really need to waste a first on a guy to take the top off the D?? He's going to need to be Steve Smith for it to be a good pick. Plus I hated his suit and general demeaner. He said the right things at least. I just have images of a young Jaire in my head. Hope I'm wrong.

[sharpe1027]

Late first round pick needs to be as good as a 16 year vet with 5 pro bowls and retire in the top ten all time for all purpose yards?

We have very different expectations.

[MadScientist]

If Watson was healthy and had developed to his potential, we didn't need Golden. We need a guy to take the top of the defense. The receivers under preformed last year by a significant amount, and there is no guarantee that Watson will do anything, or Doubs will solve his concussion problems. The only issue I have with Golden is that with all that speed and reported rout running ability, he should have better results against man. Maybe there's an underlying reason for it related to his team or something that can be coached up in the pros (if the Packers receivers coach can actually coach).

[sharpe1027]

I read a few reports that Ewers was not good at throwing the long ball and that Golden did a good job adjusting to poor throws.

[Fritz]

Yes. For all the bluster from Watson's dad, it's Doubs who really is in trouble. Whether it's medical because of the concussions, or because of his 'tude, or both, I don't think he'll be in Green Bay in 2026.

And fuck Christian Watson's dad. "They'll get what they deserve." What is that, some kind of threat that they'll somehow try to screw the Packers? He's a weird dude. Even weirder that his son seems nothing like him.

[run pMc]

Doubs is the loser with this pick. Watson possibly, although any contract he'd get wouldn't be huge.
None of these guys have cracked 900 yards yet, on a 17 game schedule. They have talent, but they aren't irreplaceable.

The suspension plus concussions were going to cloud Doubs' future at least. I hope he goes out there and has a career year, but I don't think he's worth a $15-20M contract.

Golden struck me as a late R1 early R2 talent in a draft where there was more high end talent. In this draft he was seen as a top 15 player, and getting him at 23 is pretty good. The run on DT's and the top DE's forced Gute's hand a bit, and with Golden right there it was either take a top15 guy or trade down with NYG/ATL. I'm fine with the pick, he doesn't look like a bum on film.

[bobblehead]

Late first round pick needs to be as good as a 16 year vet with 5 pro bowls and retire in the top ten all time for all purpose yards?

We have very different expectations.

At a minimum!!! Ok, what I was getting at is his physical stature isn't what I expect success out of and generally that has been true year after year, Jalen Reagor after Zay Flowers. Sub 6' WR who are hyped into first round picks rarely pan out. Steve Smith was an exception which is why I used him as my example. Because I can't think of many sub 6' WR speedsters that really pan out. Maybe Golden breaks the rule. I hope he does.

[bobblehead]

Doubs is the loser with this pick. Watson possibly, although any contract he'd get wouldn't be huge.
None of these guys have cracked 900 yards yet, on a 17 game schedule. They have talent, but they aren't irreplaceable.

The suspension plus concussions were going to cloud Doubs' future at least. I hope he goes out there and has a career year, but I don't think he's worth a $15-20M contract.

Golden struck me as a late R1 early R2 talent in a draft where there was more high end talent. In this draft he was seen as a top 15 player, and getting him at 23 is pretty good. The run on DT's and the top DE's forced Gute's hand a bit, and with Golden right there it was either take a top15 guy or trade down with NYG/ATL. I'm fine with the pick, he doesn't look like a bum on film.

The Giants gave up their 2nd (what was it, like 35?) and 2 thirds (one this, one next) for pick 25. I have to believe Gutes was offered that deal for 23. I'd have much rather went that route.

[sharpe1027]

The Giants gave up their 2nd (what was it, like 35?) and 2 thirds (one this, one next) for pick 25. I have to believe Gutes was offered that deal for 23. I'd have much rather went that route.

You can't know that. They might have only reached out to any teams after the Packers picked.

[run pMc]

Gute said a couple teams wanted to move up and they were listening to those offers. I think they thought Golden was too good to pass up.
Time will tell.

NYG gave up their R2, R3 and next year's R3 for a R1. So 34, 99, and next year's R3 pick. Houston took Jayden Higgins and packaged the 99th pick with their own R2 to move up to 48 and take Aireontae Ersery.
Basically, Houston traded Jaxson Dart, Jack Bech, and Charles Grant for Jayden Higgins and Aireontae Ersery (and a future R3). I'm not sure I'd trade Golden and Belton for Higgins and Ersery.

I would have listened and been at least tempted to trade down, but I don't blame Gute for not taking that. I do think getting as many Day 2 picks as possible is almost always a good thing, but you can't say right now Gute made a bad choice. Check back in 2-3 years.

[bobblehead]

You can't know that. They might have only reached out to any teams after the Packers picked.

Didn't say I knew it, but if the Giants offered it for 25, why wouldn't they have reached out and made the offer at 23. It was obvious the packers were fielding offers. I mean, its not like the guy they coveted wasn't there at 23, but was at 25. But I guess its possible they had 2 guys in mind and when one went they made the offer.