Texas Wide Receiver Matthew Golden Stretches The Field

Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden popped onto the scene out of nowhere in 2024. Well, not exactly out of nowhere. Golden had played two seasons prior at the University of Houston where he put up pedestrian production.

That was the first thing that caught my attention.

Receiver is one of the most difficult positions to evaluate because their “production” is at the mercy of their quarterback (QB), and his accuracy (or lack thereof). This is how some guys get lost in the shuffle. I gave Golden the benefit of the doubt and took it a step further examining his catch rate. In 2022, on those 38 receptions, Golden was targeted 59 times (64.4% catch rate). The following season in 2023 on his 38 receptions, Golden was targeted 62 times (61.3%).

Decent.

How about at Texas?

Golden produced 58 receptions on 86 targets (67.4%).

Okay, two different places ⎯similar results.

Litmus test

It was time to turn on the tape and do a full-season evaluation.

The first thing I noticed was how crisp Golden looked at the breakpoints of his routes at the intermediate route level (11-19 yards). He excelled at setting up opposing cornerbacks. This is his best trait ⎯the ability he has to get open at the intermediate route level.

What was his second-best attribute?

Great ball tracking skills intermediate to deep (+20 yards). He was proficient at adjusting back to deep passes that were off-target. It made me think this guy fits on a team with a quarterback who struggles with his downfield accuracy ⎯like on the Bears with QB Caleb Williams.

What are the negatives?

Golden is not a burner and there are some noticeable inconsistencies.

This prospect was average on physically contested passes, and he dropped some passes he shouldn’t. There’s also his ordinary catch radius to consider.

The game film indeed answered the question about his catch rate.

No. 2 receiver

After watching every catch and every target in 2024, I’m not seeing Golden as a starting No. 1 receiver on an NFL roster.

However, I see him as a solid No. 2.

While Golden was most effective at the intermediate route level ⎯he also made enough noise at the short (0-9) to deep route levels to be considered a viable threat at all three route levels. Additionally, he was competitive and somewhat elusive in the open field after he caught passes, which is an added plus.

#2 Matthew Golden 6-foot-0, 195 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2025 NFL Draft Grade: Second-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 9.9 % of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of February 7, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film evaluated: Colorado State, Michigan, UTSA, UL Monroe, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Georgia, Vanderbilt, Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas A&M, Georgia, Clemson, ASU, and Ohio State (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Note: Longhorns’ Second Leading Receiver in 2024

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

A prospect who plays football like it’s important to him. Has some star quality. Demonstrative. Attempted to even throw two passes. Lines up inside and outside pre-snap. Quick and sudden movements. Creates throwing windows. Tough to cover at route break points at the intermediate route level. Skilled at bending the top of the route stems to create needed separation. Has confidence in his hands and shows it by catching the ball away from his body. Decent concentration. Excels at finding soft spots in zone coverage at the intermediate route level. Works off-man coverage well back underneath. Drew several pass interference calls.

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.