Brian Gutekunst couldn't hide his excitement, and who could blame him? The roar of the crowd told him everything he needed to know about the Matthew Golden selection. The Green Bay Packers have good reason to be optimistic.
The Packers will never admit how badly they needed wide receiver help, but their actions paint a different picture.
Not only did the Packers select a wide receiver in the first round for the first time in two decades, but they telegraphed it. Gutekunst did extensive homework on the wide receiver class, hosting three projected first-rounders on Top 30 visits, including Golden.
Perhaps even more intriguing was the Packers' decision not to trade down. Gutekunst admitted they had several offers, and the Atlanta Falcons later sent the house (including a 2026 first-rounder) to the Los Angeles Rams to move up to No. 26. It's hard to believe the Packers couldn't have landed the same deal, but they wanted Golden badly enough to say no to all offers.
Gutekunst's comments show us just how important the Golden pick is.
Brian Gutekunst tells us all we need to know about the Packers' Matthew Golden pick
Golden has game-changing potential, and it's hard not to wonder whether he is Christian Watson's long-term replacement. Watson, the Packers' former second-round pick, is recovering from a torn ACL and entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Gutekunst's comments went beyond that. He, perhaps inadvertently, pointed out a significant problem Golden fixes in this offense.
"Obviously he has elite speed. His ability to stretch the field outside the numbers is really, really important," said Gutekunst, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. "And when you watch him, we thought he arguably had some of the best hands in the draft."
That last part is notable. The "best hands" of this year's class? The Packers sure need that in the worst way.
Green Bay's receiving room has unlimited upside, but none of that matters if they can't catch the ball. Pro Football Focus credited Jayden Reed with 10 drops (tied for second-most in the NFL) and Dontayvion Wicks with nine drops (tied for seventh) last season.
Gutekunst didn't outright say it, but after highlighting Golden's impressive catching ability — a major issue for this team last season — he quietly and subtly addressed the elephant in the room.
Gutekunst spelled out the problem. Golden's consistency at catching everything is such an important part of his game.
LaFleur's offense needs speed, and as Gutekunst pointed out, Golden has an "elite" ability to run past defenders. He ran a combine-best 4.29-second 40-yard dash in February. Add that element to the Packers' offense, and everything becomes easier. Josh Jacobs is a big winner.
Gutekunst kept his cards close to his chest in front of a microphone, but his offseason actions proved the Packers had strong interest in the wide receivers.
Now, his comments tell us one of the major reasons why they needed to add a game-changer like Golden.