Patriots Draft Profile: Matthew Golden Is Best Wideout In Class
The New England Patriots are no longer starved for talent at the wide receiver position, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t still be a bit hungry.
Stefon Diggs joined a free agent class that already addressed several other needs when signing a multi-year deal a few weeks back. Hunter Henry, Austin Hooper and DeMario Douglas can be expected to provide quality reps around him, while there will be opportunities for young receivers like Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker to step up.
It’s a decent group, but there’s still a chance for things to go south.
Diggs is on the wrong side of 30 and is recovering from surgery on his ACL. Polk and Baker providing anything would be a surprise. Henry and Hooper have been consistent, but they can only take pressure off others for so long. New England shouldn’t be done adding weapons for that very reason.
We already explored some value options that can be had later in the draft, but what if they just go for it and take the best wide receiver in the draft?
OVERVIEW
Golden’s rise to becoming one of the top wide receivers in this class is unlike anything we’ve seen in recent seasons, as he wasn’t really on people’s radars until his final season at Texas.
The Longhorns run an interesting offense that takes a lot of pressure off the players, but when injuries opened up better opportunities, the transfer stepped up and showed exactly how valuable he could be. Golden led his new team with nine scores in 2024, all while being viewed as the No. 3 guy headed into the season.
It’s not just production that has him in position to be a first-round pick, though.
NFL SCOUTING COMBINE
Golden only did one test at the combine, and for good reason.
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 191lbs
Hand: 9 1/2″
Arm: 30 5/8″
40-Yard Dash: 4.29
STRENGTHS
Big. Time. Player.
Texas leaned on its new star heavily in two overtime contests last postseason, as he finished with 311 receiving yards on 15 receptions and one clutch score across those two victories. We hate including production in these categories, but it takes a special kind of player to show up in the big moments.
Golden puts together those numbers due to a combination of insane speed and ankle-shattering breaks on his routes. It’s a game of separation, and there isn’t a single player in this class who creates more than this man — both before and after the catch.
Golden also showcased stark improvements keeping the ball in front of him and catching with just his hands in 2024.
WEAKNESSES
How comfortable will teams be with his medicals?
Golden has a history of nagging injuries, including one surgery on his foot in 2023. The NFL doesn’t mess around with stuff like that, and although everything seems good right now, can he keep it that way?
We also would have liked to see better effort in the running game and body control near the sidelines, but those can be taught.
WOULD THEY EVER CONSIDER HIM AT NO. 4?
No, probably not, but we think he’s in consideration after a potential trade.
The Patriots need to figure something out at left tackle, but there’s a chance they like the value better at that position late in the first round or early in the second round. Could they trade back a few spots, pick up an extra selection and grab their future blindside protector as well as a top-flight wideout?
Yup!
Golden is the best wide receiver in this class, which includes a pair of polarizing prospects in Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Arizona’s Tet McMillan. New England will have an opportunity to take him and should strongly consider it.
If you’d like more individual profiles, check out the full series and follow @KeaganStiefel on X.