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Lambeau Field Erupts After Packers Unusual NFL Draft Decision

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Deveney | Last updated Apr 24, 2025 11:11 PM ET

It was an odd night in Green Bay, as the town--arguably the most beloved in the league--hosted the NFL draft for the first time in history. And just as the NFL bucked trends by holding the draft in the smallest market on the league's books, so the host team bucked trends with its first-round pick.

The Packers have long been known for using their first-rounders on defensive players, and with some holes still lingering on the D this season, there was a presumption they would do much the same this year.

But, no. Despite being fairly well equipped with promising young wide receivers, the Packers added speedy wide receiver Matthew Golden out of Texas with its first-round pick, the first time the team took a wide receiver in the first round in more than two decades, dating back to Javon Walker.

MARK MURPHY THE MAN THAT YOU ARE pic.twitter.com/GaTtlAJ0dB
— (@BigMack_4) April 25, 2025

As retiring team president and CEO Mark Murphy said as he took the microphone from commissioner Roger Goodell, "The Green Bay Packers, for the first time since 2002 ..."

At that point, the crowd gathered at Lambeau Field, estimated at about 250,000 fans, erupted in cheers. Murphy continued: "Matthew Golden, wide receiver, Texas."

Murphy held up a fist as the cheers poured in.

While Packers fans can appreciate taking a skill-position player, especially one who ran the fastest NFL combine time of the year at 4.29 seconds over 40 yards, it's still a surprise to find the team looking to add Golden.

The Packers have young receivers Romeo Doubs (who was suspended for a week protesting a lack of touches last year), Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks on hand, and all have high ceilings.

Still, all three were somewhat disappointing last year and the injury to the team's fastest player, receiver Christian Watson, probably inspired the acquisition of Golden in the first round. Watson tore his ACL in Week 18 and is likely to miss all of 2025.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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