Fans are happy with the selection of Matthew Golden in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers, but they are not alone. Quarterback Jordan Love is also excited to have a new, fast weapon to throw the ball to during the season.
On Friday, hours after the Packers' decision to end a 23-year streak and take a wide receiver in the first round, head coach Matt LaFleur was on the Pat McAfee Show from Green Bay and revealed how ready Love is to take advantage of his new teammate.
"Adding a guy like Golden, I know (Jordan Love) was ecstatic," LaFleur said. "I Facetimed him last night, he was just 'Uh, I gotta get my arm loose.' It's tough to throw to a 4.29."
Speed is one of the biggest calling cards for Matthew Golden. His 40-yard dash time was one of the fastest ever for a wide receiver at the NFL Combine. For a wide receiver room lacking speed, especially while Christian Watson recovers from a knee injury, Golden has a lot to offer.
Appreciation for Jordan Love
Part of the decision to take Golden early in the draft was to maximize what quarterback Jordan Love has to offer. After a difficult transition period from the Aaron Rodgers era, Love showed flashes and also went through tough times with injuries in 2024.
"Jordan has come along nicely. It started off a little rocky, we were all just trying to get adjusted together. Myself as a playcaller and head coach, and him just getting his feet wet. But he's done a nice job. He fought through a lot of adversity that first year, we started 3-6, and I was thinking 'Are we gonna win any more games?', and went on a run and beat some pretty good teams at the end of the year, went into Dallas and had a pretty strong performance there, and unfortunately fell short to the Niners," LaFleur added. "Last year, what happened Week 1 definitely took a toll on him throughout the duration of the season. He battled through a lot of things, but I was proud of the guy that he is and how he leads. There's more out there for him."
The Packers have taken offensive players in the first round in each of the past two drafts. Last year, the team had drafted offensive lineman Jordan Morgan.
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