(Editor's Note: While the start of the 2025 NFL Draft isn't until late April, it's never too early to profile some of the key participants. The staff of DallasCowboys.com intends to preview the landscape of the draft's top prospects, with an emphasis on possible Cowboys draft picks – from the first round to the last. Today's featured player is Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden.)
- Name: Matthew Golden
- Position: Wide receiver
- College: Texas
- Height/Weight: 5'11" / 191
- Did You Know? Golden surprised a lot of people at the combine when he ran a 4.29 40-yard dash, the fastest amongst all receivers and the second fastest time overall. But Golden's speed has been a strength of his for quite some time, dating back to his junior year of high school where he ran a 10.93 100-meter dash, and excelled on special teams as a kick returner throughout all three of his collegiate seasons.
Where He's Projected:
Golden's stock has surged significantly since the combine in Indianapolis, and he's been projected to go as early as #12 overall to the Cowboys, or later on at some point in the first round.
How He Helps the Cowboys:
The Cowboys and Golden have been tied together a lot in recent weeks, and it's easy to see why. Dallas needs a second wide receiver alongside CeeDee Lamb, and Golden is a guy that still needs some development but will have plenty of time and opportunities to learn as he goes along with already elite traits and athleticism.
He doesn't need to shoulder the burden of carrying the offense from day one and instead can work on refining his route running abilities. The good news is Golden is one of the best receivers in the class at the top of his routes, giving Dallas plenty to work with if they're able to pick him up.
Golden also possess the stuff that is hard to teach: Elite body control, strong hands, and the ability to glide past defenders in the open field. He was a late riser in the draft process but has the potential to be one of the best overall players when looking back on the class in a few years.
Final Thoughts:
Production is always a data point that's important in the draft evaluation process, and Golden hasn't exactly put up the biggest numbers over the course of his two seasons at Houston, and final year at Texas.
That said, Texas' offensive gameplan shifted to Golden in the last three months of the 2024 season. In the eight games the Longhorns played, five of which were against ranked opponents, he racked up 655 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
That still doesn't necessarily blow you away per se, but the fact of the matter is Golden has all the tools needed to continue to add to his production at the NFL level, regardless of where he lands.
2025 Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine Draft Guide
Never fear, the OFFICIAL 2025 Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine Draft Guide is here. Inside you'll find positional breakdowns for the team as well as in-depth scouting reports on more than 100 incoming rookies and over 500 players ranked overall. Also featured will be our look back 50 years to the famed Dirty Dozen draft of 1975, a profile on local product and budding running back superstar Ashton Jeanty and, of course, our annual first-round mock draft. Do the draft the Cowboys way with the 2025 Dallas Cowboys Star Magazine Draft Guide!
