The Kansas City Chiefs found some answers in their wide receiver room by the end of the 2024 regular season. Expect general manager Brett Veach to fortify the position in the 2025 NFL draft.
Texas Longhorns pass-catcher Matthew Golden is built like a slot receiver but spent most of his college career playing outside. His polished style makes him a candidate to continue playing out wide in the NFL, making him compatible with Kansas City’s existing receiver room.
Golden’s agility and fast footwork make it difficult for corners to press him during his release. He still needs to diversify his release package, but his athletic traits give him a clear path to success against press coverage. Golden’s burst off the line and top speed make him a threat to overtake and stack press and off-man coverage or quickly out-leverage zone coverage.
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Golden is a loose athlete who sinks and bends at the top of his routes. He quickly decelerates to create separation on sharp comebacks and curls. His nimble footwork helps him shake cornerbacks at the top of the stem before separating into space.
Golden primarily thrived on schemed touches and intermediate routes at Houston in 2023, but he showcased an improved ability to win vertically with the Longhorns in 2024. He’s a three-level receiving threat with the speed and route running to warrant a high draft pick.
Golden lacks a large catch radius, but he adjusts well for the ball and makes some spectacular plays at the catch point. He doesn’t have the mass to break tackles with physicality but generates yards after the catch with his burst and vision. His experience as a kick returner helps him set up blockers and locate space.
Golden’s projected draft positioning skyrocketed in the past month after he authored several notable performances in the SEC Championship Game and College Football Playoff. The Chiefs will need to invest a high draft pick if they want to add him to their wide receiver room.
