Green Bay Inks First-Round Pick Golden, Leaving One Draftee Yet to Sign
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers have officially signed first-round draft pick Matthew Golden, according to OverTheCap.com.
Thanks to the current collective bargaining agreement, rookie contracts are now largely standardized, eliminating the drawn-out negotiations and holdouts that were common in years past. As the 23rd overall pick, Golden’s four-year deal is valued at $17.58 million, all fully guaranteed. That includes a signing bonus of roughly $9.42 million, and his salary cap hit for Year 1 will be just under $3.2 million.
As with all first-rounders, the deal includes a fifth-year option for the 2029 season. The Packers will need to decide whether to exercise that option following the 2027 draft.
Currently, the only member of Green Bay’s draft class who remains unsigned is second-round pick Anthony Belton, an offensive lineman. His contract is expected to be worth $8.01 million over four years, with a signing bonus of around $2 million. While first-round contracts are mostly fixed, second-round deals involve more negotiation, particularly regarding guaranteed money — a reason why many second-round picks across the league remain unsigned.
There’s a lot of excitement around Golden’s potential to contribute immediately. Last season, Green Bay’s young receiving corps struggled with consistency due to drops and injuries. With 4.29-second 40-yard dash speed, Golden brings explosive playmaking ability and is expected to help fill the void left by Christian Watson, who’s recovering from a torn ACL.
“He’s going to be a big-time speed threat right out of the gate,” said GM Brian Gutekunst. “In man coverage, he’s a tough matchup. On third downs, when teams are pressing us and we need a guy to get open quickly, he’s that guy.”
But Golden isn’t just fast — he’s also a polished route-runner with reliable hands. Though a bit undersized at 5-foot-11, he proved himself at the college level. After starting his career at Houston, he transferred to Texas, where he became a key offensive weapon during his final year.
Packers offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich noted that Golden’s quick transition from Houston to Texas has prepared him well for learning an NFL system. “There’s a lot of overlap between what we do and what he did at Texas,” Stenavich said. “That experience has helped him adjust faster to a pro-style offense.”
Golden’s production speaks for itself — in 16 games for Texas, he caught 58 passes for 987 yards and 9 touchdowns. He had standout performances against top competition, including 162 yards vs. Georgia in the SEC title game and 149 yards and a touchdown vs. Arizona State in the College Football Playoff.
Golden, confident and determined, said he’s focused on being a reliable playmaker:
“In pressure moments, I always delivered. I want to bring that same mindset to Green Bay — to make big plays and help win games. I’ve got something to prove, and I’m giving it everything.”
Now signed, Golden plans to use part of his signing bonus to buy back his grandmother’s old house, which had been abandoned for years.
“That’s where I grew up,” Golden shared during rookie camp. “We lost it a few years ago, and being able to bring that back for my family means everything. My great-grandmother always wanted one of her grandsons to make the NFL — and I did. I know she’s proud.”
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, Golden currently ranks 14th in Rookie of the Year odds, a nod to the expectations surrounding his impact as a rookie.
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