Since becoming the Green Bay Packers general manager in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has tried to address a need by “doubling up” or even “tripling up” on a position in the draft. In his eight drafts since taking over the position for Ted Thompson, Gutekunst has used this strategy in seven of his eight drafts.

In this year’s draft, he addressed three positions more than once – wide receiver, defensive line and offensive line. The drafting of Matthew Golden and Savion Williams was the fourth different position group that Gutekunst has picked more than once in the first three rounds of a draft. The other three are: 2018 cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson, 2023 tight ends Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft, 2024 linebackers Edgerrin Cooper and Tyronn Hopper.

In those previous three instances, Gutekunst is batting .500 in his six picks, even though there is still a chance that Luke Musgrave can become a contributing player like Tucker Kraft has become.

The pop #Packers fans gave when Mark Murphy said, "For the first time since 2002," is one of the coolest moments I’ve seen at an NFL Draft.

Even a week later, I can’t get over it. The “Go Pack Go” chant afterward is incredible too. pic.twitter.com/uukDE8VCk0

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 2, 2025

The headlining pick for the Packers this year is obviously Golden. He ran the fastest 40 time at this year’s combine and his play at the end of the season for Texas, is a real reason for optimism that the Packers are hitting on a potential game breaking wide receiver. Golden led the Longhorns with 947 yards receiving and 9 touchdowns in his lone season in Austin. He also had an impressive 7-catch, 149-yard performance in Texas' win over Arizona State in the college football playoff quarterfinals. 

First WR taken in the first round for the Packers since 2002… and it’s Matthew Golden ⭐️ @MoveTheSticks

📺: 2025 #NFLDraft – on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/KZsLAY1reg

— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) April 25, 2025

Gutekunst felt the need to try to make the wide receiver group one of the strengths of the team again and by selecting both Golden and Williams it could be a big reason why. The two players offer different strengths but have one similarity. They both can create explosive plays.

In Golden, his game looks very similar to both Greg Jennings and Randall Cobb, both guys who were under 6-feet tall but were both able to make big plays down the field. It’s possible Golden plays both inside and outside, like Jennings and Cobb did in their primes.

New Packers WR Matthew Golden:

🧀 4.29 40-yard dash
🧀 1975 receiving yards and 22 TDs in 3 seasons
🧀 Led Texas receivers last season with 987 receiving yards and 9 TDs

The Packers got a big playmaker to add to an already very talented receiver group.
pic.twitter.com/E2iZ2N9AIs

— SleeperPackers (@SleeperPackers) April 25, 2025

In Williams, he fits the role of the “gadget receiver” that Matt LaFleur has been looking for since he created this offense in 2019. He has used Tyler Ervin in the role and then tried with Watson in 2022 before injuries made it impossible for him to withstand the punishment it takes to be used as both a wide receiver and running back. In 2024, he had 933 yards from scrimmage for the Horned Frogs (60 catches for 611 yards and 51 carries for 322 yards). At 6-foot-4 he provides the big wide receiver that LaFleur has liked having in his offense since it allows them to use that player as a threat both with their ball in their hands as a receiver or runner, but also as a blocker.

Even though Golden is the first wide receiver drafted by the franchise in the first round since 2002, the team has hit home runs on numerous other Round 2 or 3 wide receivers in drafts dating back to the 1990’s.

When including Sterling Sharpe, the 7th overall pick in 1988, the Packers have now selected 17 wide receivers in the first three rounds (top 100 picks) of drafts. Since 1988, this is the first time that the team selected two in the top 100.

Why did Gutekunst feel the need to take two wide receivers this early in the draft? It could be because the last impression the Packers front office got from the 2024 season was a dismal performance from the offense in a 22-10 loss against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jayden Reed finished the game as the team’s leading receiver with 4 catches for 46 yards, doing so in just 3 quarters as he left the game early with a severe shoulder injury. Dontayvion Wicks was the team’s leader in targets with six, but finished with just 2 catches for 39 yards. The playoff game was a microcosm of the 2024 season for Wicks as he led the team in targets with 76, but was 5th in yards with just 415 yards.

The 2024 season was also the third straight season the Packers did not have at least one 1,000 yard receiver. Reed led the team in both 2023 and ‘24 in yards and Allen Lazard was the leader in 2022. Davante Adams is still the last Packers player to have 1,000 yards receiving in a season, doing so in both 2020 and 2021.

.@RobDemovsky checks in from Green Bay to discuss the Packers’ new WR Matthew Golden ahead of rookie minicamp 🤩 pic.twitter.com/mtT2gGlmRc

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) May 2, 2025

The last time the Packers did not have a 1,000 receiver for three straight seasons goes all the way back to Sharpe’s rookie year in 1988. The leading receivers for those three years were James Lofton, Walter Stanley and Sharpe.

Since then the Packers have had one of the most productive groups of wide receivers. Robert Brooks, Jordy Nelson and Adams have all taken turns breaking the franchise mark for receiving yards in a season. Donald Driver became the team’s all-time leader in yards despite being a 7th round pick and not even a starter until his 4th season in 2002. Antonio Freeman led the league in yards in 1998, and James Jones, Nelson and Adams led the league in touchdown catches in 2012, 2014 and 2020, respectively.