Packers giving Matthew Golden every opportunity for breakout 2026 season
· Yahoo Sports
Packers giving Matthew Golden every opportunity for breakout 2026 season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Visit milkshakeslot.lat for more information.
The Green Bay Packers selected wide receiver Matthew Golden with the No. 23 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft in the hopes of securing their WR1 of the future and upgrading the pass-catching group around quarterback Jordan Love.
However, Golden had a rough rookie campaign, as the Texas product tallied just 29 receptions for 361 yards and no touchdowns in 14 games.
Though 2025 didn't go Golden's way, the 22-year-old possesses a ton of talent and promise, and Green Bay is going to give him every opportunity possible to have a breakout year in 2026.
Golden named second-year breakout candidate
In an article detailing second-year players primed for breakout seasons, Bleacher Report's Brent Sobleski mentioned Golden for the Packers.
"Golden needed time to develop at the collegiate level, too. He was a solid option with the Houston Cougars before transferring to the Texas Longhorns and emerging as a first-round threat. Another learning curve before breaking out at the professional level tracks," Sobleski wrote.
The Packers' leading receiver in 2025, Romeo Doubs, departed for the New England Patriots in free agency, and Green Bay didn't do anything to replace him. The team also cut ties with Dontayvion Wicks by trading him to the Philadelphia Eagles, clearing more space in the position group.
Instead of adding talent to replace Doubs and Wicks, the Packers barely touched their receiver room this offseason. That's because the team is putting its faith in its young receivers, especially Golden. The Houston native played just 310 pass snaps last year and was stuck behind Doubs, Christian Watson, Jayden Reed, when he was healthy, and even Wicks.
However, with Doubs and Wicks now out of the fold, Golden is going to step into a starting role and receive much more playing time in 2026.
We'll see if Golden can take advantage of increased opportunities this upcoming season and fill the voids left by Doubs and Wicks. Watson and Reed will also need to step up, but all eyes will be on Golden and how he performs in what should be a massive breakout for the dynamic first-round receiver.