In 2025, the Green Bay Packers did something that fans had been waiting a long time for the franchise to do: draft a receiver in the first round. With the 2025 NFL Draft taking place in Green Bay, the Packers ended a 23-year drought by selecting Matthew Golden with the 23rd-overall pick.
That reality placed pretty high expectations on Golden, but he had a slow start in his first season, only catching 29 passes for 361 yards in 14 games. However, the young receiver had some promising moments to end his rookie season, and the belief is that he's now ready to make a leap and take his game to another level.
PFF writer Bradley Locker is all in on that belief, because he recently named Golden to the 2026 NFL All-Breakout Team, predicting that the young wideout will emerge as a star next season.
Packers receiver Matthew Golden predicted to have a massive breakout year in 2026
There are a couple of reasons why Locker felt comfortable making Golden one of the two receivers on this predicted team. One reason is that Golden is a talented wideout; it's a reason he was selected in the first round, and he flashed enough in his rookie season for the team to feel good about that decision.
The other reason, and possibly the biggest, is that the Packers have laid out the red carpet for Golden to have a much bigger role in the offense. Locker explained that Green Bay traded away Dontayvion Wicks and lost Romeo Doubs in free agency, so the team isn't hiding that it's banking on Golden to significantly improve his production.
"With the Packers losing Romeo Doubs in free agency and trading Dontayvion Wicks, the team is firmly placing its faith in Golden, whose premier route-running and ball-tracking skills should carry over from his time at Texas."Bradley Locker (PFF)
In addition to Golden, the Packers still have Jayden Reed and Christian Watson, but Doubs was the team's leading receiver last season, so someone has to step up. That someone is Matthew Golden. Jordan Love and the Packers do a good job of spreading the ball around and also running the football, but Golden was selected in the first round, so expectations are high for him.
If the receiver can meet those expectations in 2026, he will have a breakout year and be well on his way to stardom.
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