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Matthew Golden picked No. 23 overall by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft

Joe Cookby: Joe Cook04/25/25josephcook89
Matthew Golden
Matthew Golden (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

Matthew Golden turned dreams into a reality at the University of Texas. Golden, who spent one year with the Longhorns, was picked No. 23 overall by the Green Bay Packers in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

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During his one season with Texas, Golden caught 58 passes for 987 yards and a SEC leading nine touchdown receptions. He also completed a pass for 30 yards. He was the top downfield target for Quinn Ewers, and made one of the more significant catches in Texas history in the Peach Bowl when he hauled in a game-tying touchdown on a 4th and 13 player versus the Sun Devils.

Golden transferred to Texas after two years at Houston. During his freshman season, he caught 38 passes for 584 yards and seven touchdowns. Then in 2023, he hauled in 38 passes for 404 yards and six scores. He had a standout game versus the Longhorns for the Cougars, Hauling in seven passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns. He also had two kick returns for 41 yards.

Golden was heavily recruited by Texas in the class of 2022 but elected to stay home and play for the Cougars. A product of Klein Cain, Golden was ranked as the No. 176 overall prospect, the No. 29 wide receiver, and the No. 27 player in Texas in the 2022 On3 Industry Ranking. On3 ranked Golden as the No. 125 overall prospect, the No. 19 wide receiver, and the No. 25 player in Texas.

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He joins Kelvin Banks (No. 9 – New Orleans) and Jahdae Barron (No. 20 – Denver) as Longhorns selected in the first round of the 2025 draft.

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