NFL Exec Says 'Awesome' Matthew Golden Is Already 'Best' WR on Packers' Roster
Paul Kasabian
May 2, 2025
One NFL executive told Mike Sando of The Athletic that he believes rookie Matthew Golden is already the best Green Bay Packers' wide receiver and the best wideout option in the draft.
“Golden is awesome,” the exec told Sando. “He is their best receiver right now. I think he is really good, and he was the best receiver in the draft.”
Golden ranked well on the final B/R NFL Scouting Department big board at 20th overall and second among wideouts behind Arizona's Tet McMillan, who was listed eighth and also got drafted eighth to the Carolina Panthers.
He's the first wide receiver the Packers have selected in the first round since 2002 (Javon Walker).
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Golden played at Houston before transferring to Texas, and he starred for the Longhorns, who made the CFP semifinal. He was the team's top pass-catcher with 58 receptions, 987 yards and nine touchdowns.
Now he could potentially be WR1 on Green Bay, which has a deep and talented wideout core but could use a star player at the position.
That could very well be Golden, whose top-end speed (4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine) could easily catapult him toward stardom in the NFL.
Ultimately, the future looks bright for Golden as he joins a young and promising Packers team that's looking for a third straight playoff appearance and more.
Packers' Jaire Alexander Reportedly Prefers Release over Trade amid Contract Rumors
Andrew Peters
May 1, 2025
Amid contract talks with the Green Bay Packers, cornerback Jaire Alexander reportedly prefers to be released rather than traded this offseason.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that the Packers adjusting Alexander's contract and then trading him might not be on the table.
"Alexander, meanwhile, would rather be cut so he can pick his destination, and he might not be willing to help with a contract adjustment to facilitate a trade," Breer wrote.
Breer noted that the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs might be interested in Alexander after those teams didn't take a cornerback in the first two rounds of the draft, but Alexander's contract might deter them from trading for him.
Alexander is currently on a four-year, $84 million contract and is set to earn a base salary of $16.15 million in 2025.
That salary is somewhat pricey considering Alexander's recent injury struggles. The two-time Pro Bowler played a combined 14 games over the past two seasons. In 2024, he logged just 16 tackles while missing 10 games due to a handful of injuries. He still managed to haul in a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
In his last healthy season in 2022, Alexander had 56 tackles, 14 passes defended and five interceptions. If teams were getting that version of Alexander, they'd likely be quick to pull the trigger on a trade, but his injuries make such a move a bit more risky.
Releasing Alexander seems like the Packers' most realistic move, which would save them some money.
Devonte Wyatt's $12.9M Contract Option Exercised by Packers for 2026 NFL Season
Adam Wells
Apr 30, 2025
Having established himself as a vital member of the Green Bay Packers' defensive line, Devonte Wyatt has had the fifth-year option on his rookie contract picked up.
Per Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz, the Packers exercised Wyatt's option year for 2026 that will guarantee him $12.9 million.
This is a bit of a surprise move only because Wyatt hasn't been a starting member of the Packers' defense over the past three years. He has just five career starts, all coming during the 2023 season.
Wyatt has played at least 50 percent of the defensive snaps just 14 times in 47 career games. He was on the field for more than 50 percent of the snaps in both of Green Bay's playoff games during the 2023 season.
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A leg injury knocked Wyatt out of the Packers' playoff loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in the first quarter.
Despite not being a starter, Wyatt has found a niche as part of a rotation. He finished second on the team in tackles for loss (nine) and sacks (five) last season. It was also his first time playing in defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley's scheme.
With Hafley returning for a second season, the Packers are likely going to be optimistic about what Wyatt can do after showing a lot of promise in 2024.
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It's also a very low-risk move at just $12.9 million to ensure Wyatt is on the roster through 2026. That salary ranks just behind D.J. Jones and Grover Stewart (both at $13 million) in average annual value among interior defensive linemen.
The fifth-year option also gives the Packers additional time to evaluate Wyatt as they decide whether or not they want to give him a long-term contract extension.
The Green Bay Packers and cornerback Jaire Alexander have continued contract talks amid trade rumors and his possible exit, per ESPN's Rob Demovsky.
According to a source, the Packers and Jaire Alexander continue to talk about a possible resolution, which could include a reconciliation to where Alexander plays for the Packers in 2025 after all.
All options are still on the table: release, trade or return.
Per Over the Cap, Alexander signed a four-year, $84 million extension with a $30 million signing bonus in 2022.
Trade rumors have persisted this offseason, and Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel spoke more about them Saturday.
"A source familiar with the dealings between the Packers and Alexander said the Packers still were in the market to trade him and were waiting to see if a team might have interest after the draft. There is no plan for the Packers to bring Alexander back after deciding in February they were moving on and then shopping him to teams."
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Silverstein also reported on April 15 that there was interest in Alexander but that no trade was "imminent."
Demovsky's Tuesday report brings about hope that something could get done between the two sides.
Alexander is a seven-year veteran, a two-time Pro Bowler and a two-time second-team All-Pro. At his best, he's proved to be one of the league's best cornerbacks.
Unfortunately, injuries (plus a one-game suspension) have held Alexander to just 16 games over the past two seasons (including playoffs). He also played just four games during the 2021 campaign.
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Given those facts plus his salary-cap hits, it's understandable why the team may want to trade him, but he's still an incredibly valuable piece when healthy. He also has a big backer in quarterback Jordan Love, as noted to Kay Adams for the Up & Adams show.
Brown spent his first five seasons in Green Bay before playing one year for the Washington Commanders. In addition to his career on the gridiron, the Maryland native made 61 appearances for the Washington Senators during the 1963 MLB season.
Brown played football and baseball collegiately at the University of Maryland, and the school noted he was the first athlete ever to win a Super Bowl and hit a home run in an MLB game.
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The Buffalo Bills selected Brown in the third round of the 1963 AFL draft, while the Packers picked him in the second round of the NFL draft that same year.
According to Packers historian Cliff Christl, Brown said he initially preferred baseball, and Green Bay indirectly played a role in his mindset. He attended the 1962 NFL championship between the Packers and New York Giants, which the former won amid frigid conditions at Yankee Stadium.
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"It was a cold, windy, nasty day. The field was frozen," Brown recalled in 2009. "I went in the locker room and I said, 'These guys are big. I'm going to play baseball.'"
However, he subsequently saw the writing on the wall after hitting .147 with the Senators.
"I think I could probably have played major league ball, but not as a starter; probably as a utility player," Brown said. "But I had the opportunity to play with the Packers and I took that opportunity."
Ditching baseball for football proved to be a smart decision. He was a regular starter for the Packers when they claimed an NFL title in 1965 and then won the first two Super Bowls in 1966 and 1967.
Packers Draft Matthew Golden as Fans Celebrate GB's 1st WR Taken in Round 1 Since 2002
This pick marks the first time that Green Bay has selected a wide receiver in the first round since 2002, when the Packers took Javon Walker with the No. 20 overall choice.
Golden played at the University of Houston for two years before transferring to Texas. He shined for the Longhorns, amassing 58 catches, 987 yards and nine touchdowns for the College Football Playoff semifinalists. He was a fantastic deep threat too.
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Green Bay Selects Texas WR Matthew Golden 23rd Overall
Sometimes kids transfer to power conferences from smaller leagues and look overwhelmed by big atmospheres. Never saw that in the 2 games I got to watch Matthew Golden last year. Got better in 2nd halves. Got better from Oct to Dec. Wanted the ball in Q4. Will be a great pro in GB
This marked a unique year for Green Bay with the draft occurring in town (specifically Lambeau Field) for the first time in the event's history.
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The Packers are coming off an 11-6 season that ended with a playoff berth, but their postseason run ended abruptly with a 22-10 road loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wild Card Round.
The year before, the Packers snuck into the playoffs with a 9-8 record as the No. 7 seed. Green Bay then authored a massive upset over the No. 2 seeded Dallas Cowboys, 48-32, before nearly picking off the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round before losing 24-21.
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Overall, it's been a solid start for the Packers in the Jordan Love era. After waiting behind Aaron Rodgers for three years, the former Utah State star has fared well as Green Bay's starter, and he's in town long term after signing a four-year, $220 million deal.
Green Bay is solid on both sides of the ball, having finished eighth in scoring and then sixth in points allowed. The Packers, remarkably, lost four of their six games by two of three points, a fifth by five points and a sixth by 10 points.
A few more bounces their way could have potentially led to an NFC North title and a No. 1 seed in the playoffs, especially considering that they lost twice to the eventual division champions, the Detroit Lions.
Green Bay still entered this draft with some needs, notably at cornerback, edge-rusher and wide receiver. The Packers have seven draft picks, with No. 23 overall leading the way.
We'll see how the Packers continue to attack the draft at home soon enough with the festivities continuing on Friday and Saturday.
Packers Reportedly 'Serious' in Pursuit of George Pickens Trade With Steelers
Doric Sam
Apr 23, 2025
After acquiring star receiver DK Metcalf earlier this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers were poised to have one of the NFL's best receiving duos with him and George Pickens. However, it sounds like Pickens isn't guaranteed to be in a Steelers uniform during the 2025 season.
On Wednesday, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports called Pickens an "intriguing trade name to watch" heading into the 2025 NFL draft.
"It's just not in their DNA to spend that much on two wideouts," an AFC GM told Schultz of the Steelers. "Pickens is more available than people think. Green Bay's been serious, and they're not the only ones."
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Schultz went on to add that "multiple teams have brought up" Pickens in trade discussions, and while Pittsburgh "isn’t actively shopping him," he noted that "conversations have taken place."
Amid the latest trade rumors, Pickens has unfollowed the Steelers on Instagram:
Steelers Depot confirmed Pickens was previously following the team's account last month, but the latest move could be a sign things aren't going well with this relationship.
The Packers could use an upgrade to their receiver room after Jaylen Reed's 857 yards led the team in 2024. Pickens would add a different dimension to Green Bay and immediately become the No. 1 receiver for star quarterback Jordan Love.
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In 2024, Pickens played 14 games and led the Steelers with 900 receiving yards on 59 catches while adding three touchdowns. The 24-year-old recorded 1,140 yards and five touchdowns in 2023, his lone season eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark.
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Pickens is entering the final year of his rookie contract after entering the league as a second-round draft pick in 2022. Steelers general manager Omar Khan told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine in February that there was mutual interest in keeping him with the team long term.
"I had a really solid exit meeting with GP, and I can tell you that he has a desire to be great," Khan said at the time. "He has a desire to be great here. We have a desire for him to be great and to be great here, with respect to the contract. We won't discuss that publicly and usually those things are addressed at a later date."
However, those comments came before the acquisition of Metcalf in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks, which was followed by a five-year, $150 million contract extension.
After such a substantial commitment to Metcalf, Pittsburgh could have no choice but to give up on Pickens. It would be wise for the Steelers to try to acquire assets for him rather than losing him in free agency next offseason.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for Green Bay Packers LB
Matt Holder
Apr 22, 2025
The Green Bay Packers selected Kentucky LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.
After winning a National Championship and becoming an All-American during his sophomore season, Jamon Dumas-Johnson had the makings of someone who could become a top linebacker prospect and a complete player in the NFL. However, he's regressed since then due to injuries and putting on some bad weight.
The latter appears to have affected Dumas-Johnson's athleticism as he looked thicker and slower this past season at Kentucky than he did during the 2022 campaign at Georgia. That showed up most in his coverage skills as his transitions and ability to close, taking longer to get in and out of his breaks.
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Against the run, the former Wildcat and Bulldog has decent instincts to get to the right spot and has shown the ability to slip blocks from offensive linemen with his quickness. However, linemen who are more athletic and under control when working up to the second level can swallow him up since he doesn't use his hands when taking on blocks.
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Overall, Dumas-Johnson is worth taking a flier on during Day 3 of the draft to see if he can return to the 2022 form. At the least, he can be a solid backup at MIKE or SAM linebacker in the NFL.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'1"
WEIGHT: 246
HAND: 9¼"
ARM: 32"
WINGSPAN: 78½”
40-YARD DASH: 4.60
VERTICAL: 37.5
BROAD: 10'6"
POSITIVES
— Takes command of the defense pre-snap, constant communicator and points out motions to help get everyone on the same page.
— Solid instincts as a run defender to read his keys and get to the right spot, also knows when to shoot the gap.
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— Physical when taking on blocks from tight ends, and he has some quickness to occasionally slip blocks from offensive linemen climbing to the second level.
— In zone coverage, he reads the quarterback's eyes well to anticipate throws and tighten windows or help teammates in coverage.
— Effective as the pick player on stunts when blitzing, he sells vertical and is aggressive to catch offensive linemen off guard and get pressure.
NEGATIVES
— Sub-par athlete overall who will get beat by running backs and tight ends in man coverage.
— Lacks change of direction skills to quickly transition in coverage, impacting his ability to click and close.
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— Struggles to locate threats coming into his area in zone coverage due to bad eye discipline.
— Doesn't break down well when tackling in space, leading to misses or overpursuing.
— Takes on blocks with his shoulder against offensive linemen and doesn't have enough strength to win at the point of attack.
— Angles in pursuit need work, he'll be both too shallow and too deep.
NOTES
— Born Nov. 28, 2001
— A 4-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports
Nazir Stackhouse NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for Green Bay Packers DL
Matt Holder
Apr 22, 2025
The Green Bay Packers added Georgia DL Nazir Stackhouse as an undrafted free agent after the 2025 NFL draft.
Nazir Stackhouse is a solid run-defending interior defensive line prospect who can plug gaps. He's strong at the point of attack to gain control of blocks and hard to move one-on-one. Against double teams, he attacks and can defeat the man he's lined up across from. He has good knee bends and a sturdy base to absorb contact from the second blocker to stay in his gap.
Nazir Stackhouse Highlights
Stackhouse also has solid quickness and lateral movement skills for his size which, combined with good block recognition, allows him to avoid getting reached or scooped out of his gap.
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However, the Georiga product is more of a "do your job" type of player than someone who is going to make a lot of tackles and post flashy stats. He'll be in the right spot consistently but can struggle to disengage and get off blocks. Also, he offers nothing as a pass rusher, evidenced by his three career sacks in five seasons.
Overall, Stackhouse is a reliable backup defensive tackle in the NFL who can line up as a nose tackle or 2i-technique.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'4"
WEIGHT: 327
HAND: 10¼”
ARM: 32½”
WINGSPAN: 78⅛”
40-YARD DASH: 5.15
3-CONE: 7.65
SHUTTLE: 4.85
VERTICAL: 27.5"
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BROAD: 8'9"
POSITIVES
— Good upper body strength to stand up offensive linemen at the line of scrimmage and gain control of the block.
— Takes on blocks with good knee bend and a sturdy base, hard to move one-on-one and is solid at staying in his gap versus double teams.
— Quick to recognize down blocks, shifting his eyes and hands to take on the block and avoid getting washed inside.
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— Decent athlete for his size and runs his feet well to avoid getting reached against outside zone runs.
— Can make tackles in his gap with offensive linemen hanging onto him.
NEGATIVES
— Minimal pass-rush production, doesn't have any moves he can win with and has a sub-par motor to get coverage sacks.
— Often false steps out of his stance, hurting his get-off and bull rush.
— Hand placement is a little wide as a run defender, exposing his chest.
— Not violent when shedding or getting off blocks which can lead to him getting stuck.
Barryn Sorrell NFL Draft 2025 Scouting Report for Green Bay Packers Edge
Matt Holder
Apr 22, 2025
The Green Bay Packers selected Texas EDGE Barryn Sorrell with the No. 124 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Barryn Sorrell is a solid prospect as an edge-rusher who gained some steam with his performances at the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine. He was named the American Team's top defensive lineman in Mobile and posted a top-10 athleticism score (78) among edge defenders in Indianapolis, per Next Gen Stats.
Sorrell primarily wins as a pass-rusher with solid use of hands. He has active hands, especially after contact, to "defeat the hands, defeat the man" and win around the edge. He pairs that with a flexible lower body to help corner at the top of the rush.
Barryn Sorrell Highlights
However, the former Longhorn doesn't have a go-to move outside of working the offensive tackle's hands and needs to rush with a better plan to develop some countermoves.
Sorrell is going to have a tough time becoming an every-down player in the NFL. He isn't physical at the point of attack, has subpar block recognition and struggles to hold his ground when setting the edge. NFL offensive linemen and good blocking tight ends will give him trouble as a run defender.
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Overall, the former Longhorn has good athletic testing numbers and hands as a pass-rusher to be a decent developmental prospect in the NFL. He may only be a third-down rusher, but he should be able to carve out a role in a defensive line rotation.
MEASUREMENT AND WORKOUT RESULTS
HEIGHT: 6'3"
WEIGHT: 256
HAND: 9¼”
ARM: 32¼”
WINGSPAN: 77⅞”
40-YARD DASH: 4.68
3-CONE: 7.06
SHUTTLE: 4.36
VERTICAL: 34"
BROAD: 10'1"
POSITIVES
— Solid frame for an NFL edge-rusher with room for growth.
— Active hands as a pass-rusher and is solid at working the offensive tackle's hands after contact.
— Good agility to gain ground vertically while working laterally to take efficient paths as the looper in line games.
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— Flexible hips and ankles to have solid bend at the top of rush.
— Athletic to break down when unblocked and make tackles in space against wide receivers versus jet sweeps or screens.
NEGATIVES
— Shorter arms limit the extension on blocks he can get as a run defender and allow long-limbed offensive tackles to make the first significant contact when rushing the passer.
— Plays with high pad level. Stands up out of his stance.
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— Not physical and strong at the point of attack. Will struggle to set the edge against offensive linemen and good blocking tight ends.
— Lacks rotational strength to keep his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage and avoid getting washed out of his gap.
— Needs to rush with more of a plan. Doesn't show many countermoves if his initial move doesn't work.
NOTES
— Born Dec. 22, 2002
— A 3-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports
