The Green Bay Packers broke a 23-year first-round wide receiver draught by selecting Matthew Golden with the 23rd overall pick in the NFL Draft, but the fact it happened in Green Bay made Thursday night serendipitous.

However, the Golden selection is more than just a heartwarming story. The 21-year-old wideout from Texas is an absolute gamer and has the potential to be an impact player in Matt LaFleur's offense. While Golden doesn't boast elite size (5-11, 191), his 4.29 speed brings a special field-stretching element to the Packers roster.

After spending two seasons at Houston in a primarily supporting role, Golden transferred to Texas as a junior and broke out in his one season with the Longhorns, coming on late in the year and emerging as a star in the team's playoff run.

Golden's 162-yard performance in the SEC Championship against Georgia put him on the national map. He finished the year as the Longhorns' leading receiver, tallying 58 receptions, 987 yards, and nine touchdowns.

Going into the draft, the Packers knew they wouldn't have Christian Watson for most of next season, leaving a major void in their offense--someone who can stretch the field and be a big-play threat. While Golden should help remedy this, he also offers more than just blazing speed.

He possesses many attributes on the field that fans will love.

*Note: While All-22 film was watched to prepare for this piece, only clips from YouTube (broadcast copy) are included in this article.

Traits to Love and What Matthew Golden Brings to the Packers

1) Big Play Threat -- The first attribute about Golden's game that stands out is his affinity to make plays downfield. His speed and ability to track the ball are truly special. Take this first clip, for example, from his freshman season at Houston. On fourth-and-ten, just before halftime, Golden explodes out of his stance, accelerates downfield, and separates from the defensive back to haul in a 42-yard touchdown.

Even as a freshman, Golden shows a natural ability to track the ball over his outside shoulder. His long speed and ball skills make him a big play threat. 

This next clip is from Golden's junior season, and he is playing Clemson in the first round of the playoffs. It is evident how much his game has matured. He is the "X" receiver at the top of the screen.

His release is explosive as he takes an inside step to get downfield, and he gains separation from the cornerback once he breaks at the top of his route. If the pass isn't underthrown Golden would have taken it to the house. However, he does a great job adjusting to the throw, despite taking contact as he makes the catch.

Golden's speed makes him a dangerous offensive weapon and could be a real game changer for the Packers' offense. If he makes plays like this in the NFL, then defenses will be forced to respect the deep ball, which should have a ripple effect of opening things up for everyone else on offense.

Golden also shows savvy as a deep route runner, which allows him to take good angles when splitting zone defenders on skinny posts or seam routes. Take this next play, for example, from the Peach Bowl against Arizona State. 

It's fourth-and-long and the Longhorns are down a touchdown in overtime. Golden is on the line of scrimmage in a stack formation. He fires out of his stance and faces bracket coverage with the corner playing outside leverage and the deep safety watching for inside release. Golden sells the corner route with a quick stutter step and then turns inside to run past the safety before the defender can react in time.

Golden's football IQ is also on display in this next play from the Florida game. He is lined up in the slot and does a nice job slow-playing his route to make it look like he is going to block for the tailback who swings out in the flat. This pulls the defensive backs upfield, which frees up Golden to slip down the sideline and haul in the pass for a touchdown.

It's easy to see why Golden averaged over 17 yards per reception last season. His crafty route running, explosive speed, and big-play ability make him an exciting addition to the Packers passing game.

2) Three-Level Wide Receiver -- Golden is not only a deep threat, however. He can be productive at all three levels of the passing game. He has an array of intermediate and quick routes in his arsenal, making him an effective receiver from every area of the field.

On this next play from the Georgia game, Golden goes in motion and then on the snap bursts ten yards downfield before sharply cutting inside on a dig route. His ability to whip out of his breaks allows him to gain separation from the defender and catch the pass over the middle of the field for a nice gain.

Golden is also just as effective on out-breaking routes. This next clip comes from his second contest against Georgia. Lined up on the hash, Golden shows a nice release off the line of scrimmage, beats press coverage, and creates separation out of his break on a 12-yard out-route to make a beautiful sideline catch for a first down.

Golden has a certain suddenness to his game. He's quick in and out of his breaks, and his change of direction is sharp, which allows him to create separation even against tight coverage.

In this next clip, for example, Golden sells the deep route by accelerating out of his stance and then stops on a dime to catch a ten-yard hitch. The defensive back is a few yards off because he fears Golden's deep speed, but the beauty of this play is Golden's body control to come to a complete stop and then quickly turn upfield to gain extra yards after the catch.

At both Houston and Texas, Golden was also utilized on bubbles, screens, and stop routes. His speed and agility make him dangerous with the ball in his hands in space, so the quick-hitting plays can be very effective, which LaFleur loves implementing in his offense.

On this play from the Mississippi State game, Golden is lined up on the inside of the trips set, and he gains the first down on a bubble screen. His acceleration helps him turn the corner and get past the sticks.

Golden is an efficient receiver at every level of the passing game. His speed and playmaking ability make him an exciting player, but he can also produce on the bread-and-butter plays and be a reliable target for his quarterback on intermediate and short routes.

3) Impressive Release and Separation -- Golden is more than just a deep speed guy. He shows a strong release package and an ability to separate both vertically and horizontally. He can also line up both in the slot and on the outside, making him a versatile offensive weapon.

He has the tools to be a go-to wide receiver in the NFL and a real red zone threat. In this next clip, the offense is near the goal line, and watch how quickly Golden separates from the defender in a small space to score the touchdown. He's lined up in the slot and the defensive back is tight to the line of scrimmage in man coverage. At the snap, Golden feints to his left and then jumpcuts to an outside release, which allows him to gain outside leverage and create just enough space on his quick out to give the quarterback an opening to place the ball.

This type of play is seen throughout Golden's film. He's very effective near the goal line and on third-and-short or fourth-down plays. He definitely doesn't shy away from the clutch moments in games.

This theme continues in this next clip from the Peach Bowl. Golden is at the bottom of the screen as the single "X" receiver. The ASU defensive back is playing tight man coverage, and it's third-and-long. Golden gives the DB a stutter step and then smoothly releases off the line of scrimmage, quickly gaining outside leverage. While the defender does a nice job staying just behind him, Golden has enough of an edge to haul in the pass near the sideline.

Golden's smooth release and explosive acceleration are secret weapons that allow him to set up defenders and make them pay for overplaying their hand.

On this next clip from the SEC Championship, Golden shows a similar jumpcut release he demonstrated on the deep routes. He even has his head down, selling the go route, but watch how he quickly redirects and stops at the sticks to catch the pass for the first down. As the defensive back turns and runs downfield with him, Golden creates nearly two yards of separation because he decelerates so suddenly.

Golden's ability to explode off the line of scrimmage makes him a difficult receiver to guard, but he is also crafty and shows an ability to set up defenders with a variety of looks and releases, making his routes difficult for defensive backs to anticipate.

4) Elite Hands and Body Control -- It only takes a few minutes of watching Golden's highlights to know he possesses impressive hands and body control. In fact, it was tough deciding which eye-popping catches to include in this article because there are so many throughout his brief time at Texas.

Take this play against Arizona State, for example. The Longhorns are in the red zone, and it's fourth-and-short. Golden is lined up as a single receiver at the top of the screen. He runs a quick out, but the pass is a bit high. Watch how he goes up and hauls in the pass while contorting his body to get both feet in bounds.

It not only demonstrates outstanding athleticism but also impressive concentration. Golden's competitive toughness is one of the best attributes of his game. Despite not being the biggest receiver, he will go up and get jump balls.

This is demonstrated in another acrobatic catch in the ASU game, which happens to occur in overtime. With the ball on the three-yard line, the quarterback sprints right and lobs a pass to the corner of the end zone. Golden goes up, twists his body, and snatches the pass out of the air over the defensive back. Despite the defender in his face, Golden still manages to fall with two feet down in the end zone for the score.

Another example of this type of athleticism can be seen in the Georgia game. Golden starts in the slot, but then he goes in motion and runs a hitch-and-go. As he sprints down the sideline the pass is nearly out of reach, but Golden extends his body and stretches out to catch the pass just over the defender.

Golden not only puts his body on the line to catch a pass, but he also demonstrates a strong awareness to track the pass in the air and fight back to the ball if it is underthrown. Unfortunately, for Golden, many deep passes were underthrown in his time at Texas, so he is well-practiced in fighting back to the ball.

This next play from the Georgia game is a prime example of this. As Golden is sprinting downfield, he has to let up and adjust to a poorly thrown ball by his quarterback.

Golden's ability to sell out for passes leads to many highlight-reel catches, but it also demonstrates the competitiveness of the athlete. His "my ball" mentality makes him play bigger than his size, and it's what every team wants in their No. 1 wide receiver.

5) YAC Ability -- Much has been made of Golden's speed and strong hands, and rightly so, but he also has a knack for gaining yards after the catch. This is an attribute that could be very valuable in the Packers' offense, especially as more teams in the NFL play two-high coverage. 

Take this play, for example, from his second season in Houston. Ironically, Golden is playing against Texas in this clip. However, at Houston, Golden was used frequently in motion out of the backfield as a receiving option. In this play, Golden is lined up in split back but then motions to the flat on a swing route. His explosiveness is on display as he gets downfield quickly and gains 14 yards with the ball in his hands. It's a nice quick-hitting pass and one that could easily fit in a LaFleur offense.

Similarly, Golden was used on smash screens in the Texas offense. He may not be the most elusive runner, but he does use his acceleration to get downfield in a hurry. He also shows good decisiveness to find an opening and hit it at full speed.

He could show a little more patience on this screen pass to let his linemen set up their blocks before he accelerates full speed, but with more experience, it's easy to see how this could be a nice wrinkle to add to Green Bay's offense.

Golden is an agile runner, but he also shows good balance and strength for his compact 190-pound frame. On this next play from the UTSA game, Golden catches a pass over the middle of the field and breaks two tackles to gain 12 yards after the catch.

The former Texas standout can make defenders miss in space, but he also can flat-out run away from them, giving him the potential to be a YAC monster at the next level.

On this play from the Peach Bowl, watch how Golden turns a simple catch on a slant route into a big 54-yard gain.

His explosiveness makes him a big-play threat with the ball in his hands in space, and his ability to gain yards after the catch allows him to be a more complete receiver than just a mere field stretcher.

Areas of Improvement for the Next Level

1) Needs to Finish as a Run Blocker -- Now, while there is a lot to like about Golden's game, there are areas he could improve as he enters the NFL. His initial effort as a run blocker is good, but he still has a long way to go before he is consistently effective in this part of the game. He needs to take that same "my ball" mentality to the run game and block to the whistle.

Take this play from the Michigan game, for example. Golden is lined up close to the left tackle in a bunch formation. He cracks down on the defensive end and shows good initial hat placement, which opens a clear hole for the tailback off the edge. However, as he is driven back by the end, he disengages, which allows the defender to make the tackle.

If Golden could sustain his block for just another second or two, the running play would be more successful. Granted, he is being asked to block a defender much larger than himself, but he could give himself a chance by running his feet and keeping his pads down once he engages in the block.

However, Golden does show a little more success when blocking on the perimeter against defensive backs. In this play from his time at Houston, Golden is the point man in the trips bunch set. He does a nice job engaging with the cornerback, while staying square to keep the defender out of the play.

However, as the clip shows, he does tend to place his hands a bit outside, which can lead to holding. He doesn't get called for it on this play because he adjusts his hands shortly after engaging with the defender, but it is something he has been flagged for in other games. Cleaning up his blocking technique will help him be more effective on the perimeter at the next level.

While at Houston, Golden was not the star receiver, which led to him being utilized on offense in a variety of ways, including doing some of the dirty work. One of the more interesting clips is this next one.

He motions across the formation and on the snap kicks out the defensive end to lead block for a quarterback keeper. The funny part to this is Golden is far too small to do this effectively, but also, the end he is trying to kick out is Barryn Sorrell, the Packers' fourth-round pick and Golden's eventual teammate at Texas and Green Bay.

It is unlikely the Packers will ask Golden to add more weight to improve his blocking because they won't want him to lose any of his elite speed or agility. However, while Golden may never be an elite blocking wide receiver, he can grow enough to be effective on the perimeter. The Packers will just have to be smart on where they line him up and what they ask him to do. He is not someone they will want to place tight to the formation to crack an edge defender or dig out a linebacker in the box.

2) Kick Return Ability is still Raw -- Brian Gutekunst mentioned Golden's return ability in his post-draft press coverage. However, while Golden has some experience at Texas returning kicks, this is far from his best attribute as a player. His top-end speed in theory could make him a dangerous returner. However, in the snaps in college he played in this role he looked raw and hesitant, struggling to show the vision and natural feel required to be a dynamic returner.

Take this return from the Michigan game. Golden struggles to follow his blockers and see the holes opening up in Michigan's line.

While Golden flashes some ability to turn a corner and be a big-play threat as a returner, he is far from showing a knack for it. This is simply not the strength of his game. He doesn't demonstrate the patience to let his blockers set up before he accelerates downfield.

Even though it was called back because of a penalty, his best return in college came against Georgia. Here he hits the hole and uses his speed to find open space, so this ability is there, which is what Gutekunst and company may see.

However, despite having some potential as a returner, Golden seems far more valuable as a potential big-play wide receiver in the Packers offense. It doesn't make a lot of sense to risk injury to a first-round pick and player who could develop into their No. 1 wide receiver, especially when his ability as a returner still needs a lot of work.

The Packers certainly have other options at kick returner who could be more effective and less costly if injured, like Mecole Hardeman or Marshawn Lloyd.

Realistic Expectations

Golden shows a lot of promise, but he will still have to earn his place in the starting lineup this summer. However, it is reasonable to expect the rookie will eventually overtake either Romeo Doubs or Dontavyion Wicks at one of the starting "X" spots. A lineup of Golden, Jayden Reed, and Doubs/Wicks seems like a very solid trio. Include offensive weapons Tucker Kraft, Josh Jacobs, and wildcards, like Luke Musgrave, Marshawn Lloyd, and Savion Williams, now the Packers offense has the potential of being a very fun group to watch next season. In the very least, Golden gives the Packers speed defenses will have to respect, which is incredibly valuable with Christian Watson beginning the season on IR.