2025 Rookie Profile: Matthew Golden

2025 Rookie Profile: Matthew Golden (WR) Texas

Welcome to the 2025 fantasy football season. FullTime Fantasy‘s annual rookie scouting reports next break down 2025 Rookie Profile: Matthew Golden.

College Resume

Matthew Golden, a wide receiver, carved out an impressive collegiate career across two programs in Texas. He began at the University of Houston (2022-2023), where he played two seasons in the AAC and Big 12 conferences before transferring to the University of Texas for his junior year in 2024 (SEC).

Golden was a Houston native and a four-star recruit out of Klein Cain High School, initially committing to TCU before flipping to Houston. At Houston, he burst onto the scene as a freshman in 2022, setting a program record for a first-year player with seven touchdown receptions. After two productive seasons with the Cougars, he moved to Texas, where he emerged as a key Longhorn playmaker in their 2024 College Football Playoff run. Golden declared for the 2025 NFL Draft after his junior season, forgoing his final year of eligibility.

Houston (2022-2023): Played 25 games over two seasons, establishing himself as a dynamic receiver and special teams contributor. Recorded 13 receiving touchdowns and added two kickoff return scores.

Texas (2024): Started all 15 games, leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. Shined in big moments, including a 162-yard performance in the SEC Championship against Georgia and a 149-yard, game-winning touchdown effort in the Peach Bowl against Arizona State.

Stats

Receptions: 140

Receiving Yards: 2,175

Receiving Touchdowns: 22

Kickoff Returns: 722 yards, 2 TDs

2024 (Texas):

Receptions: 58

Receiving Yards: 987

Receiving Touchdowns: 9

Average Depth of Target (ADOT): ~12.5 yards (estimated based on scouting reports)

Notable Games:

SEC Championship vs. Georgia: 162 yards

Peach Bowl vs. Arizona State: 7 receptions, 149 yards, 1 TD

Remove two-way star Travis Hunter from the equation… here’s WR1 in the ‘25 draft class. Matthew Golden, Texas.

Golden is the only guy in the class that moves like this!! Plus, great adjust skills when ball is in air and not enough credit for route savvy. pic.twitter.com/BcxW6uqi6k

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) March 24, 2025

Measurables

Height: 6 0

Weight: 195 lbs

40-Yard Dash: 4.29 seconds (fastest WR at 2025 NFL Scouting Combine).

Vertical Jump: TBD (projected mid-30s based on explosiveness).

Broad Jump: TBD (projected 10’5”+ given track background).

Matthew Golden is the ONLY Wide Receiver in NFL History to hit these marks:

➖190+ lbs
➖Run a SUB 4.30
➖950+ Receiving Yards

He ranked 1st in 20+ Yard Receptions (23)

The wildest part?

Golden had a notable High Ankle Sprain in January, he MIGHT run faster at his Pro Day.. pic.twitter.com/Ol3l8wrcei

— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) March 9, 2025

Golden’s elite speed (4.29 40) and twitchy athleticism stand out, complemented by his high school track pedigree. His frame is compact but functional, though he may need to add mass to handle NFL physicality.

NFL Fits

Golden’s skill set—blazing speed, sharp route-running, and versatility—makes him a fit in the NFL He projects as a late first-round or early second-round pick (20-40 range), depending on team needs and his Combine/Pro Day performance. He’s best suited for 11-personnel schemes that prioritize speed and route precision over physicality at the catch point.

Dallas Cowboys: Dallas has next to nothing at wide receiver after CeeDee Lamb. Golden would instantly be the WR2, and it makes sense as a hometown pick. However, he is not expected to go this high in the draft, Jerry.

Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel’s system, built around speed and spacing, suits Golden’s quickness off the line and agility in the slot or outside. He’d complement Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle as a third weapon.

Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay’s offense thrives on speed and separation, and Golden’s ability to win at all three levels (short, intermediate, deep) pairs well with Matthew Stafford’s arm. His 4.29 speed could stretch defenses alongside Davante Adams and Puka Nacua.

NFL Comparison

Santana Moss, a first-round pick (16th overall) by the New York Jets in 2001 out of Miami, offers a compelling comparison to Golden. Like Golden, Moss was a sub-6-foot speedster (5’10”, 185 lbs at the Combine) with a 4.31 40-yard dash, excelling as a deep threat and YAC creator. Moss also contributed as a returner early in his career (four punt return TDs) before evolving into a polished route-runner with the Washington Redskins, where he posted five 1,000-yard seasons.

Golden mirrors Moss’s explosiveness and versatility, though he’ll need to refine his contested-catch ability and physicality against press coverage—areas where Moss improved over time. If Golden follows a similar developmental arc, he could become a reliable WR1 or high-end WR2 with return value.

Other Rookie Profiles

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