Mel Kiper Jr. breaks down Matthew Golden as NFL prospect

There might not be elite top-end depth at the wide receiver position this NFL Draft cycle but plenty of guys are still standing out. One of them is Matthew Golden out of Texas, someone ESPN’s Mel Kiper thinks highly of. Kiper recently broke down Golden as a prospect, claiming he was in consideration for a spot in the first round in a recent mock draft.

“One year with (Quinn) Ewers at Texas, Matthew Golden became the guy,” Kiper said. “Isaiah Bond, remember, he was the hyped transfer. Matthew Golden was not the hyped transfer but this was the guy Quinn Ewers went to early and often in those games. He had a drop every now and then but overall, he was the man. To put together the type of year he had solidifies him, in my opinion, as a borderline first-round pick.”

Golden spent just one season on the 40 Acres after beginning his career at Houston. Some production was there early in the season before a mid-season lul. But when Texas needed somebody to step up as a WR1 in critical games, Golden knocked the role out of the park.

Beginning in the finale against Texas A&M, Golden averaged at least 20 yards per reception in the final five games — four of which were in the postseason. None bigger than a 4th and 17 connection with Ewers against Arizona State, extending the game and helping Texas advance in the College Football Playoff.

In total, Golden caught 58 passes for 987 yards and nine touchdowns. Field Yates described him in the most simple terms as “a good football player.” Whoever winds up picking Golden in April will be getting a quality player who can be relied upon no matter the circumstances.

“He’s got juice,” Yates said. “He’s got some serious juice. He averaged major yards per catch, 58 catches, for nearly 1,000 yards this past season for Matthew Golden who stepped up as that No. 1 pass catcher in the Texas offense.

“Extremely reliable… Good football player. We can start there describing what [he] brings to the table. Good, reliable football player who does what you need them to do and then some on a play-in, play-out basis.”

If Golden were to be selected in the first round, it would be back-to-back years for Texas. Xavier Worthy went to the Kansas City Chiefs in 2024 and enjoyed a nice rookie campaign on his own. Golden will be hoping for similar success with Kiper and Yates thinking the potential is there.