Cory's Corner: Let's Give Them Something To Talk About
Get ready for big things from the second year wideout.
The grumbling grew like a winter virus.
First it was just a couple of people at the water cooler, then it was groups of people at pregame tailgates and finally I heard retired folks complain about it at the grocery store.
What were so many people upset about last year? Ever since Matthew Golden became the first Packers wideout drafted in the first round since 2002, people couldn’t get enough. However, he had as many receiving touchdowns last year as Bo Melton, who only caught four passes — all season.
But now that all changes. Romeo Doubs left via free agency to the Patriots and Dontayvion Wicks was traded to the Eagles. Golden averaged 21 passing snaps a game in 15 games last year, counting the NFC Wild Card Game. That’s also counting games where he had four and nine snaps.
Golden showed plenty of promise last year with speed, versatility and strong hands. Now he just needs to gain even more trust of his coach and quarterback to be able to go to him in high leverage situations. Can Golden haul in that tough catch on third-and-7 with a defender crawling on his back? Doubs did that time and again and now it’s Golden to prove that he can do it too.
Remember, Golden is an absolute speed demon. Going back to 2017, the only first round wideouts that bested Golden’s 4.29 40-yard time were John Ross’ 4.22 in 2017, Henry Ruggs’ 4.27 in 2020 and Xavier Worthy’s 4.21 in 2024.
The speed is great, but what I like most are his hands. Golden only had one drop in 2025 and he caught 29 of 44 passes thrown his way. That means that his route running is very good and he also knows how to get open.
Golden is poised to take over as the primary outside weapon. The “X” receiver is the position where Doubs averaged almost 27 routes per game last year. Expect Golden to flourish in an offense that won’t have bloated expectations for him.
It’s perfect because Golden will not be called upon to be the focal point of the offense. That will still be Josh Jacobs. The offense will either run through him directly or indirectly with play-action.
Golden is like a stock that is about to explode because all of his tools and intangibles have been proven. All he has to do is prove that he can do them when it matters most.
So stop grumbling, because Golden will produce in a big way this year for the Packers.
But I can already see it. When Golden tallies his first two-target game of the season, it will turn into Grousing Season all over again.
Golden is different because he can do so many different things. In his last year at Texas, Golden had 15 plays of 25 yards or more. The Packers have been starving for that kind of electric playmaking and now it’s finally here.
That should give them plenty to talk about next year.
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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn
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Comments (17)
Savage57
April 18, 2026 at 06:53 am
More 'seasoning would have been nice last year as he ascends to a larger role this one, but the chance to have a season to gradually soak it all up and learn his craft at the master level isn't going to hurt him or the team.
I suspect he's going to provide ample grist for a lot of conversation mills this fall.
Coldworld
April 18, 2026 at 06:59 am
Golden was not perfect as a rookie by any means. There were certainly mistakes in route running. However, with his athletic profile it seemed to be obvious that he was a candidate to scheme open in motion and in space. Yet we continually didn’t do that even when Reed was unavailable. Then we did in the playoffs and he scored a remarkable TD.
However one slices it, the use of golden last year was a massive failing on the part of LaFleur. Certainly that kind of play is not Golden’s ceiling, but it would have given us a weapon best placed to deliver and built confidence in the player. Start with the obvious and take the low hanging fruit. Can LaFleur do better this year? He has to.
Oppy
April 18, 2026 at 11:54 am
The use of Golden last year wasn't much different than the use of any Packers rookie WR of the last 15-20 years.
There's definitely room for a discussion about how the Packers have historically used rookie WRs, but this isn't just a LaFleur thing, as much as I know all (negative) roads lead to LaFleur on your map.
Coldworld
April 18, 2026 at 12:14 pm
It’s not how much he was used. It’s how appropriately to his skill set. You repeatedly trot out this rebuttal (by your own admission) to a point I’ve never sought to make and don’t above. Perhaps it’s yet another attempt to deflect in lieu of a true defense for inexplicable coaching choices.
Real Talk Ryan
April 18, 2026 at 09:07 pm
I completely agree. The player mismanagement by the coaching staff, of which Matt LaFluer is head of, was unacceptable. How many different coaches do we need to make sure our head coach knows what he's doing in situations he's paid to handle as the head coach?
dobber
April 18, 2026 at 07:54 am
Thanks for at least removing the bullets from your disjointed list of Golden snippets.
"In his last year at Texas, Golden had 15 plays of 25 yards or more. The Packers have been starving for that kind of electric playmaking and now it’s finally here. "
Correct me if I'm wrong, but weren't the Packers something like 8th in the league in explosive pass plays last season?
golfpacker61
April 18, 2026 at 08:00 am
Here is to hoping LaFleur takes advantage of the other offensive minds around him so he can do his job better, which is to be the head coach of the team. The under use of Golden is just one of the very noticeable issues Matt has shown. He also seems unable to make adjustments at halftime to offset what the other team is throwing at him. Even in game adjustments are few and far between. Work smarter not harder.
Our WR room is still loaded and isn't 60% of what it can be, but we need to use everyone including Golden. Williams, Moore, and Shephard when he moves up. Yes, Kraft is the obvious biggest receiving threat, but he can't be the only one. GB made everyone happy by selecting WR Golden with our first round pick last year over more obvious pressing needs, CB & DT, so let's start using him more and justify the lofty selection.
stockholder
April 18, 2026 at 08:17 am
Cory It's a week before the draft.
And you want to tell us
something we already know.
I have to wonder if your not trying to
stop the rumors, of Hurst being a top pick.
Or even the need for WR, after the wicks trade.
Still I have to bring up what Lombardi had.
Hornung, Dowler, Kramer, even Ray Nitschke
as electric playmakers. " leaders "
( They all served in the military.)
It is time to look at what we can gain
and not what we lost.
This is the week we can change are
reasons, for being upset.
Finding what Lombardi had.
Rather it be from the military academy,
to those on a power house school.
Since'61
April 18, 2026 at 08:22 am
Golden, Watson, Reed and Kraft should create difficult decisions for DCs. Ultimately with these receivers on the field the Packers should have numerous opportunities in their passing game especially off of play action. There is no longer any excuse for not utilizing Golden more effectively than the Packers did in 2025. Thanks, Since '61
Since'75
April 18, 2026 at 12:25 pm
I don't want to hear 'any' excuses.....period.
It's time to win Championships.
********
No...i'll never let that go 😁
Talk the talk, walk the walk.
Don't write any checks, your mouth can't cash.
ThinkBig
April 18, 2026 at 11:14 am
While I agree that Golden was under used.....it seems to me that the elephant in the room is consistently ignored.....LACK of possessions as the Defense couldn't get off the field....it didn't matter if it was 3rd & long or short yardage or 4th down = the defense failed time & again! Defensive line? Defense soft play over the middle? CB's playing 12 yards off the ball & back peddling as the receivers caught the first downs in front of them?
Another Elephant in the room = INJURIES.....Every year it seems that we have an innominate amount of injuries = WHY? Sure injuries happen, however it seems that the Packers have more than their fair share = Preparation? Training? Practice? Medical Staff? Drafting injury prone players? BAD LUCK?
Gute is all about the RAS score for drafting....while ignoring FOOTBALL INTELLIGENCE for players! = FOOTBALL SMARTS?
LambeauPlain
April 18, 2026 at 11:25 am
I know scores of Packer fans and I don't recall much "grumbling" about Golden not playing more.
This is mostly a media narrative. He went through what most rookies experience. The Packers did not back into the playoffs and produce another early exit off the playoff stage because Golden did not get more targets.
The rookie Golden had 29 receptions/361 yards being 5th on the depth chart behind Watson, Doubs, Reed, and Wicks. Now he is 3rd and will get more targets. And he will (better) run more accurate routes this year than last year when he looked lost at times.
He is now a veteran and if past Packer WR history is a guide he will be just fine. A few other notable Packer WR rookies and all were higher than 5th on the depth chart:
Nelson - 33/366
Jennings - 45/632
Cobb - 25/375
Adams - 38/466
Watson - 41/611
Golden is now 3rd on the depth chart and will likely start opposite Watson. He WILL get more targets and expect his routes will be far better and Love's trust in him will grow.
R-E-L-A-X.
Oppy
April 18, 2026 at 11:59 am
100% agree.
I posted these numbers at the end of last season, but one thing about Packers fans, they won't let a few facts get in the way of a popular negative narrative.
Turophile
April 18, 2026 at 02:06 pm
^ This....
marpag1
April 19, 2026 at 04:06 am
No one loves a lame straw man argument quite like Cory does. Yeehah... really knows how to beat the stuffing out of that tired old scarecrow. Oh well. I guess we all have to do what we're good at.
Boneman
April 20, 2026 at 09:06 am
If our guys stay healthy a majority of the season I can see big things happening for them. That is something that almost never happens at the receiver position so expect one of our day 2 picks to be a receiver if one is on the board. I also think they take an RB higher than we expect. Would it shock anybody if we took a WR and RB as our first two picks and load up on CB's and O-line after?
Pizzadoc
April 21, 2026 at 11:35 am
I’m pretty sure that would shock and enrage a lot of fans