Packers News
The Green Bay Packers are reshaping their wide receiver room around Matthew Golden in 2026. The team let Romeo Doubs walk in free agency and traded Dontayvion Wicks to the Philadelphia Eagles. Both moves free up space for last year’s first-round pick.
Doubs signed a four-year deal with the New England Patriots in March, closing out four seasons in Green Bay. Weeks later, the Packers sent Wicks to Philadelphia in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2027 sixth-round pick. The Eagles also signed Wicks to a one-year, $12.5 million extension upon acquiring him.
The back-to-back departures leave Golden, Jayden Reed, and Christian Watson as the core of Green Bay’s receiving corps heading into 2026.
General manager Brian Gutekunst did not mince words when asked about Golden’s ceiling. “I think his ceiling is very, very high,” Gutekunst said. “We’re very, very excited about what he’s going to do for our football team moving forward.”
Golden was selected by the Packers with the 23rd overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the franchise’s first first-round investment at wide receiver since 2002. His debut season was uneven. He finished with 29 receptions for 361 yards and no touchdowns across 14 regular-season games. He averaged fewer than 50 percent of the team’s offensive snaps through most of the year, buried behind Doubs, Reed, Watson, and Wicks in a crowded rotation.
He made no secret of his frustration with that role.
The postseason offered a different look. In the NFC Wild Card loss to the Chicago Bears, Golden caught four passes for 84 yards and hauled in his first career touchdown reception, a 23-yard grab with under seven minutes remaining. The Packers fell 31-27 despite leading 21-3 at halftime.
With Doubs and Wicks now gone, the target share that had been divided five ways is suddenly concentrated. Reed is expected to hold down the slot, where he and quarterback Jordan Love have developed a strong connection. Watson remains a big-play weapon when healthy, though durability has been an ongoing concern throughout his career. That leaves Golden as the projected outside WR1 heading into the new season, a role the Packers have been building toward since draft night.
The 2026 regular-season schedule has not yet been released, so Green Bay’s Week 1 opponent remains unconfirmed.
What is confirmed is the roster’s direction. The Packers have now moved two receivers in the span of a month. Each move compresses the depth chart further in Golden’s favor. The front office has made its bet. Golden now has the opportunity, and the responsibility, to justify it.
Fantasy Impact
Before we all start trading for Golden in Dynasty and break out the yellow highlighters for Redraft, I do want to make note of some issues I remember from last season. There were a number of times when the Packers drew up plays to get Golden the ball, and Jordan Love went in a completely different direction. I tried to research this, but came up short. I do remember a red zone opportunity where the play was the obvious target, but Jordan forced the ball in a different direction.
I’m very interested to hear how things go in Training camp and see what role Golden is a part of this summer.