Matthew Golden walked into Lambeau like he knew something the rest of the league hadn’t figured out yet. Sat tight in the green room while 22 teams looked the other way, like he was just another receiver in a deep class. But that poker face? Icy. Because what the Packers did next flipped the whole script. And when Golden dropped his three-word mic check after the draft, the message hit different. Subtle. Savage. Straight up disrespect-proof. It was never personal, but now it’s on sight.
The Green Bay Packers snapped a two-decade dry spell at wideout by picking Matthew Golden at No. 23—marking their first first-round WR selection since Javon Walker in 2002. The 22 teams passed on him, and then BOOM—Lambeau went all in. What followed? Golden hopped on X, quoting a Packers fan page that clowned the situation with a jersey photo and caption and all the teams that slept on him. And Matthew Golden? Boy, he didn’t forget, he said, “22 of em” – reiterating how 22 teams overlooked him. So, just three words. That’s it. But man, that tweet shook the timeline like a snow globe.
Look, Matthew Golden ain’t no hype project. He was WR2 heading into the draft. Matthew Golden has been torching DBs since Texas, and his Peach Bowl performance? Legendary. 7 grabs. 149 yards. Clutch 28-yard TD on 4th and 13 in OT. Straight-up sniper under pressure. That catch sent the Longhorns to the CFP semis and locked his legacy in Austin. You don’t do that unless you’re built for the big screen.
And don’t forget the 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the combine. Fastest among all receivers. Tied the best 10-yard split too. That isn’t just speed—that’s nitro. You blink, and he’s already got six on you. So when he stepped into Packers rookie camp, he already knew he belonged. And his choice of jersey? Cold-blooded symbolism. Golden ditched the standard WR digits and went with No. 22. Not just ‘cause 22 teams slept—but for his grandma, his “best friend,” whose favorite number was 2.
“My grandma, her favorite number was two growing up,” Golden told reporters. “She told me she wanted to represent that number. I knew the last receiver that was drafted [by the Packers in the first round] was 2002, so I feel like it kind of made sense.” This ain’t just about catching balls. It’s about rewriting history. In a league where WRs rock the 0s and flashy 1s, Golden’s No. 22 jersey isn’t just a number—it’s a reminder. A statement. It’s legacy in motion. And the league? They’re gonna learn.
22 of em . https://t.co/BMutQ1MMlx
— Matthew Golden (@MatthewGolden_) May 3, 2025
Bills GM Brandon Beane expresses regret for not trading up for Matthew Golden
Brandon Beane isn’t the type to sugarcoat anything. If the Buffalo Bills miss out, he’ll tell you straight up—and that’s exactly what he did after the draft. Sitting with Tyler Dunne from Go Long, Beane basically said he wanted Matthew Golden but couldn’t pull the trigger. Translation? The price tag was too steep, and now he’s watching from the sidelines like, “Damn, that coulda been us.”
Now let’s be real—Bills fans have been screaming for more weapons for Josh Allen since Diggs started catching feelings on the sideline and dipped. Beane’s defense? The offense was still top dog in 2024, leading the league in scoring. But even the hottest car needs a fresh set of wheels, and Golden was looking like a damn Ferrari sitting there at pick 23. Instead, the Bills went defense-heavy: CB Maxwell Hairston in the first round, then scooped T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson, and Deone Walker to beef up the D-line. Solid picks, no doubt. But when Golden starts cooking corners in Green Bay, Beane’s quote might age like milk.
“As I’ve said 100 times, I would love to add Matthew Golden or one of these guys,” Beane admitted. “But not at the expense of things that help you win from a more important standpoint.”
Maxwell Hairston is no scrub either—DB got 6 picks and three TDs across three seasons at Kentucky and was named All-SEC back-to-back. But he’s not gonna stretch the field or run a 4.2 down the sideline for six. That’s where Golden comes in. And you could tell from Beane’s voice—he knew he might’ve just let a game-changer slide.