Many Packers’ fans have gotten their wish. The draft’s hosts have selected Texas receiver Matthew Golden at No. 23 overall. While the franchise has seen plenty of Day 2 receivers (Davante Adams, Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson) in their recent history, Golden is the first Day 1 wide receiver for Green Bay since 2002, before he was even born. 
Green Bay fielded trade calls, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports, and discussions were held with the Eagles, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Instead, the Packers have chosen to break with recent tradition and take a first-round wideout.
After two promising seasons at Houston, Golden transferred to Austin and had a breakout season, logging 987 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. While he put forward a decent campaign for most of the year, he blew up over the last four games of the Longhorns’ season, averaging 102.8 yards over the stretch of the SEC Championship Game and Texas’ three playoff games. He only added to the intrigue in Indianapolis when he ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the combine.
Golden joins an already youthful and diverse receiving corps in Green Bay. Currently manned by Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Dontayvion Wicks, Bo Melton, and Mecole Hardman, the Packers wide receivers group is going to have quite a bit of competition for roster spots come the end of August. Golden fits in the mold more of Reed, Melton, and Hardman, but he enters the NFL with a higher pedigree than any of those players did.
Regardless, Jordan Love has a new target in Green Bay. With Doubs, Watson, and Hardman all set to play through contract years in 2025, Golden gives the team an option if they’re unable to secure everyone they’d like to lock down long-term.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.