The Green Bay Packers made a bold statement this offseason. By letting a number of their talent from a year ago move on to other teams, they are perhaps sending a message that the 2026 season will be different.
The talent lost was on both sides of the ball and included more than 10 players. Two of those departures came via trade.
First it was OLB Rashan Gary to the Dallas Cowboys and then later WR Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The feeling within the Packers, though, is that they believe they have enough talent on the remaining roster to be just as competitive. Some of those players may have just been waiting to break out, like WR Matthew Golden, who will be entering just his second NFL season in 2026.
Matthew Golden Predicted For Major Role Increase In Year 2
Not only did the Packers trade away Wicks, they also let last year’s leading receiver Romeo Doubs sign with the New England Patriots. That is why Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton says Golden’s target count could see a major increase.
“In 2025, Doubs and Wicks saw a total of 131 targets. The former led the team in targets (85), catches (55) and receiving yards (724),” Moton wrote.
“As a rookie, Golden built early momentum, racking up 52-plus receiving yards in three consecutive appearances, but he missed a few games because of injuries and had an inconsistent finish to the campaign.”
In his rookie season, Golden finished the regular season with 29 catches on 44 targets for 361 yards and no touchdowns. His lone touchdown came in the playoffs. But only scoring a single touchdown is wild considering Golden was the first wide receiver the Packers selected in the first round since Javon Walker in 2002.
His draft selection felt significant, especially since Green Bay already had a crowded receiver room at the time. That is part of the reason they allowed Doubs and Wicks to move on this offseason.
Packers Need Matthew Golden To Deliver On 1st-Round Potential
If Golden comes through and lives up to his first-round potential, the Packers shouldn’t have much drop-off when it comes to their pass catchers.
The bigger question, not just with the receivers but with the team overall, is whether they can all stay healthy.
Golden didn’t make it through a full season and appeared in 14 of 17 games. Jayden Reed’s injuries cost him most of the year, as he played only seven games total. Christian Watson missed seven games, and talented pass-catching tight end Tucker Kraft appeared in only eight games after tearing his ACL.
“Although Green Bay has finished in the bottom six in passing attempts for consecutive seasons, Golden can carve out a decent role in three-receiver sets with Jayden Reed and Christian Watson,” Moton added. “If tight end Tucker Kraft isn’t quite himself coming off a torn ACL, expect the second-year receiver to play a significant role in the passing attack.”
Really, there is reason to believe Golden should be positioned to become the Packers’ WR1. After all, that is why he was drafted so high by Green Bay a year ago.
His blazing 4.29 speed was supposed to stretch the field and become a big-time weapon for quarterback Jordan Love.
Maybe with more space to breathe in the receiver room, Golden is ready to take on a much larger role in Year 2.
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