Packers finally draft WR with first-round pick: Matthew Golden selected by Green Bay at No. 23 overall

The Green Bay Packers selected wide receiver Matthew Golden with the No. 23 pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday night, a historic selection for the franchise that hosted the annual event at Lambeau Field. 

The selection of Golden in Round 1 ends the longest active drought for a franchise selecting a wide receiver in the first round at 23 years. The last time the Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round was Javon Walker in 2002 — back when Brett Favre was the quarterback and Mike Sherman was the head coach. 

The Packers never selected a wide receiver in the first round in the Aaron Rodgers era at quarterback, making the drought notable over the years. Christian Watson and Jayden Reed were second-round picks who are on the current roster. Watson was selected in 2022 and Reed in 2023. 

Here’s how long it’s been since the Packers drafted a wide receiver in Round 1. They drafted Walker on April 20, 2002 and Golden was born on Aug. 1, 2003. 

The Packers’ last 1,000-yard receiver was Davante Adams in 2021. Green Bay also snapped the longest drought in the common draft era (since 1967) without selecting a running back, wide receiver or tight end in the first round.

This draft was historic for Green Bay, which finally adds a non-quarterback skill-position player in the first round for the first time in decades.