Rajvir Bal Compares Matthew Golden to 14-Year NFL Receiver

The Texas Longhorns completed a stellar season this fall, and wide receiver (WR) Matthew Golden had much to do with that.

This is why many mainstream draft platforms have him mocked to go high. Just to name a few of them…Pro Football Network, NFL.com, USA Today, Fox Sports, CBS, and The 33rd Team (nflmockdraftdatabase.com).

The question is, is the hype warranted?

Let’s answer that:

Background

Golden was a four-star recruit out of high school and committed to the University of Houston in December 2021 (247Sports).

Two years later, after the 2023 season, Golden transferred to Texas.

Golden’s stats:

2023:

• 9 games
• 38 receptions
• 404 yards (10.6 avg.)
• 6 touchdowns

2024:

• 16 games
• 58 receptions
• 987 yards (17.0 avg.)
• Nine touchdowns

#2 Matthew Golden 5-foot-11, 191 pounds 
Rajvir Bal’s 2025 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)
Projected by 42.6% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of April 16, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film reviewed: Michigan, Ohio State, Texas A&M, Arizona State, and Clemson (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Top-End Speed

Golden could be the fastest receiver in the 2025 draft class. That was showcased during the NFL Combine by his 4.29-second 40-yard dash.

That’s legit.

Golden has burner speed over the top and can easily accelerate past defenders in the deep third of the field. He’s also hard to catch out in the open, constantly darting past defenders.

Great Route Runner

This prospect makes sharp, accurate cuts, has a great tempo on his routes, and knows precisely when to slow down and when to speed up.

This feel for the game will serve him well in the big leagues, as instincts are essential to beating high-level NFL cornerbacks.

Golden’s route tree was also good, as he demonstrated he could run all around the field (short, intermediate, and long).

Needs Fine-Tuning

Golden can still play sloppily at times by making occasional concentration drops and not going 100%.

Specifically, this receiver seems to forget the more technical aspects of his training when facing more physical defensive backs. He often gets muscled off his routes and struggles with shaking bigger cornerbacks.

Offensive Threat

Defensive coordinators will have to scheme around Golden. With his athletic abilities and savvy, he has legit potential to take over games.

If defenses hone in on him, I believe he’s capable of putting up multiple breakout games each season.

Ten Adjectives

Explosive. Sloppy. Dangerous. Slippery. Athletic. Raw. Quick. Instinctive. Inconsistent. Electric.

NFL Crystal Ball

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Seattle Seahawks

Pro Comp: Former Washington Redskins WR Santana Moss

Role On Team: WR1

Final Words

He’s raw in spots, but when he’s on, he looks like a future game breaker.

Rajvir Bal is a high school student from the Virginia area. He grew up a rabid Washington Redskins fan, attending more than 30 games, and has enjoyed the team’s high points and low points throughout his life. He plays varsity football and basketball. Rajvir has taken an interest in the NFL Draft since middle school when his team picked Montez Sweat and Dwayne Haskins in the first round. His favorite NFL player ever flips between Rob Gronkowski and Brett Favre, and his favorite athlete is LeBron James. He has been writing his own scouting reports since 2020, and is excited for the opportunities FirstRoundMock provides.