Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has reportedly expressed frustration with his role.
Last year, the Green Bay Packers selected wide receiver Matthew Golden with the 23rd overall pick of the NFL Draft, this even though their receiving corps was already stacked.
Golden entered the year behind Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks on the depth chart, and everyone knew that Christian Watson would surpass him once he returned from his torn ACL, too.
Due to a collarbone injury to Reed in Week 2, Golden received more opportunities than initially expected early on, but as the Packers' wide receiver room became healthy, Golden's targets dipped.
He ended up catching 29 passes for 361 yards on 44 targets overall, failing to score a touchdown.
Now, ESPN's Rob Demovsky has revealed that Golden may not have been too happy with his role during his rookie campaign.
Green Bay Packers receiver Matthew Golden. Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images."For Golden's part, he never complained publicly about a lack of opportunities even though he watched rookie receivers on other teams get targeted far more often. It's possible that Golden might have expressed his frustrations behind closed doors," Demovsky wrote. "One source said whether he shared it with coaches or not, Golden did let his frustration be known to several people close to him."
Golden's production plummeted over the final five weeks of the season, which coincided with Reed's return to the lineup. Watson had long returned at that point, too.
In fact, over the last five games of 2025, Golden managed just five catches on 12 targets. Taking it a step further, between Weeks 8 and 18, the University of Texas product managed double-digit receiving yards only twice.
The good news for Golden is that he should face far less resistance next season after the Packers watched Doubs walk in free agency and then proceeded to trade Wicks.
Golden will probably be the No. 3 receiver on Green Bay's depth chart behind Reed and Watson in 2026, and he will also face some competition from fellow second-year wide out Savion Williams.
The 22-year-old should absolutely have a much better chance to flash his skills next fall. Whether or not he makes the most of that opportunity remains to be seen.
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