(Photo: 247Sports)
With the calendar officially turning to April, the 2025 NFL Draft is just a few weeks away. For the Chicago Bears, draft weekend will represent a significant opportunity to put the finishing touches on a roster that general manager Ryan Poles has spent the last four offseasons building.
Over the last three offseasons, Poles has made investing in wide receiver a high priority. In 2024, with the No. 9 overall pick, he drafted Rome Odunze. In 2023, he'd draft Tyler Scott with the 133rd overall pick in round four.
With Ben Johnson now in the fold, acquiring skill position players who fit what the Bears are looking to do on offense will be a priority for Chicago. With three picks on day two (39th, 41st, and 72nd overall), the Bears could look to add another pass catcher, pairing Odunze and DJ Moore with another running mate.
If the Bears are really looking to add another pass catcher, Texas' Matthew Golden could be a name to watch. He isn't a top-10 pick but if Poles decides to trade down in round one, Golden could make a lot of sense. The Bears have quietly been doing their homework on Longhorns wide receivers this spring. Golden's teammate, Isaiah Bond, was at Halas Hall for a top-30 visit.
Adding Golden to a room that features Odunze, Moore, and Scott would give quarterback Caleb Williams a well-rounded group of pass catchers to distribute the football to.
Let's get into our scouting report on Golden.
Matthew Golden, Texas, (5-foot-11, 191 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Golden works all three levels of the field with similar consistency and productivity. His route-running needs refinement, but he does a decent job of altering tempo and separating at break points. Golden has the ability to play all three receiver spots. He also has the agility and body control to turn near-misses into highlight catches. Focus drops still pepper his play, but he's a willing participant in traffic and took command of contested catches with better physicality and catch strength in 2024. Golden's starting-level traits and big leap forward as a go-to playmaker have him primed to become a productive catch-maker with the potential to develop into a WR1 in the future."
Film:
Strengths:
- Has proven that he can make big plays when called upon.
- Long speed is evident on tape.
- Excellent footwork as a route runner.
- Solid hands that show up on film.
- Can stick his foot into the ground and make cuts with ease.
- Is willing to take on contact and make a play in the process.
- Body control for pass catchers is among the best in this draft class.
Weaknesses:
- Must improve and refine his route running. Needs to be more detailed here.
- Tape shows a player who seems to take some plays off.
- Struggles to work back to the ball in contested catch situations.
- Has to be more physical as a run blocker if he's going to take his game to the next level.
Final Thoughts:
Golden's tape shows a player who is just beginning to hit his stride and will continue to improve with more reps. The body control, footwork, and agility make him a player who could eventually develop into a game-changer on offense for any team.
In the context of the Bears, he'd complement Odunze, Moore, and Scott. He'd also be a fit for what Johnson is looking to do on offense, especially in the horizontal running game. The Bears know that Golden may not be worthy of a top-10 pick but moving down the board and selecting him while acquiring more picks could become a legitimate possibility.
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