When the Packers made Matthew Golden the No. 23 overall pick in last year’s NFL draft, which just so happened to be held in front of a throng estimated at around a quarter of a million fans in Green Bay, the locals hailed the pick. This was different from the Packers’ typical approach to the first round–they prefer defensive linemen and cornerbacks in those situations–as the Packers had not picked a receiver with a No. 1 pick since Javon Walker in 2002.
Golden, the hope was, would solve the Packers’ needs on two fronts–he’d be the true WR1 the team was lacking in recent years, and he’d bring much-needed, over-the-top speed. He was the fastest offensive player in last year’s draft, with a 40-yard dash time of 4.29 seconds.
Fast forward a little less than seven months, and the initial excitement has given way to reality and even disappointment. Golden has struggled to stay healthy as he deals with a shoulder injury, and through eight games, has just 23 catches for 246 yards. Golden sat out on Monday against the Eagles, and had just five catches for 13 yards in the two previous weeks.
Davante Adams Situation Was Comparable to Matthew Golden
The struggles caught the attention of another Packers first-round pick, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, the team’s No. 21 overall pick in 2014. Clinton-Dix was a starter in his rookie year, and a second-team All-Pro in Year 3. But it was the guy the Packers took just after Clinton-Dix who was on his mind: Davante Adams, a 2014 second-rounder.
On Twitter/X, Clinton-Dix retweeted a post from The Athletic about Golden’s tough times, and invoked the name of Adams, a surefire Hall of Famer when he retires. Clinton-Dix pointed out that some Packers fans wanted Adams run out of town when he struggled early in his career.
Wrote Clinton-Dix: “No way am I comparing the two but I remember when Tae was battling injuries early and ppl quit on him. Now he will be in a gold jacket at the end of this. Packer nation block the noise and watch (Matthew Golden) rise to the top.”
GettyFormer Packers DB Ha Ha Clinton-Dix defended Matthew Golden.
Packers’ Matthew Golden Staying Ready
Clinton-Dix makes a fair point–some receivers come in and make an instant impact, while others need time to develop and adjust to their team’s system. The truth is that, other than now-injured tight end Tucker Kraft, all of the Packers pass-catchers have had some serious disappointments this season, and Green Bay’s offensive woes stretch well beyond anything Golden has or has not done.
The Packers certainly need to make more of an effort to get the ball to Golden. But they need a better overall effort in general.
“Whenever my number is called, I know I’m going to be ready,” Golden said. “Whenever the ball is in the air, do my best to make a play. Run game, I’m going to block as hard as I can and just try to contribute to the team whenever I don’t have the ball in my hands.
“Obviously you want to do a lot … It’s not even about me. It’s about the team. For that reason, we just need to handle business, go out and take it one game at a time.”
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