Matthew Golden was headed to a national radio show outside of Lambeau Field Wednesday, when much to his surprise, he bumped into Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Golden, a wide receiver from Texas, was in Green Bay earlier this month for an official pre-draft visit. And Golden spent a day with Gutekunst and the Packers’ coaching staff.

So when Golden saw Gutekunst — just one day before the NFL Draft — he had a weird feeling.

“Man, I knew once I shook (Gutekunst’s) hand — something just told me they’re (going to) come get me,” Golden said.

Oh, they came and got him all right.

And with the NFL Draft being held in Green Bay for the first time ever, the Packers gave the 205,000 fans in attendance an even bigger reason to celebrate.

Green Bay selected Golden with the 23^rd overall pick, sending the locals into an absolute frenzy.

Golden became the first wide receiver taken by the Packers in the first round since 2002, when Green Bay selected Javon Walker.

Packers outgoing president Mark Murphy announced the pick to a delighted audience that went wild after hearing Golden’s name.

And the week-long party that had been taking place in Green Bay turned into absolute bedlam.

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“It was pretty neat in the room,” Gutekunst said of watching Murphy call Golden’s name. “I can’t imagine what it was like out there. It was just one of those really special moments for our staff.”

Now, the Packers need Golden to become as special as his draft night was.

Green Bay’s wide receivers had a remarkably disappointing 2024 campaign.

Jayden Reed didn’t take the jump many expected. Romeo Doubs suffered two concussions and went AWOL. Dontayvion Wicks couldn’t catch. Then Christian Watson suffered an ACL tear.

While there’s still hope for the group, they needed help. And after a 23-year wait, the Packers finally spent a first round pick on a wide receiver that should provide immediate gratification.

“I think the world’s changed a little bit,” Gutekunst said. “It always takes receivers a little bit of time to get going. It used to be kind of that end of Year 2, middle of Year 3 when … things slowed down for them and they could really produce. We’ve had a lot of history where that happened.

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“I think because of the high school football and the way they throw it around, the 7-on-7s, and just some of the things have changed on the lower levels, guys are coming in and making an impact quicker and I certainly think Matthew has the opportunity to do that.”

The biggest thing that gives Golden a chance to shine is his blazing speed. Golden ran the 40-yard dash in 4.29 seconds at this year’s NFL Combine, fastest among all the wideouts.

While Golden is just 5-foot-11, 191 pounds, speed certainly kills. And the Packers suddenly have a burner that they desperately needed in their wide receiver room.

“He’s going to be a speed threat right away,” Gutekunst said. “He is one of those guys that covering him from a man perspective is going to be extremely tough on teams. So when we get to some of those third-down things where people are trying to mug us up and we need somebody to get open fast, he can do that.”

Golden spent two years at Houston, where he caught 38 passes each season. He then transferred to Texas where he had 58 receptions, nine TDs and averaged 17.0 yards per catch for a Longhorns team that reached the College Football Playoff Final 4.

From the midway point of the season, Golden became the biggest playmaker on the Longhorns’ dynamic offense.

“Once they kinda realized what they had, then it just kind of took off,” Gutekunst said of Golden’s production.

The biggest question is Golden’s size.

Gutekunst said that 5-foot-11 is the Packers’ ‘Mendoza line’ for wide receivers — meaning that’s the shortest they can be. While Golden is undersized, though, Green Bay believes he can play both outside and in the slot thanks to his other physical gifts.

“I definitely understand the game so well to where I can tempo my routes so where I don’t have to run full speed and I just know where my breaking points need to be, wherever the defender is,” Golden said. “I got a lot in my game. I could play inside, play out. I could also take the top off, so whatever the team needs me to do, I’m definitely that guy they need to do that.”

Xavier Worthy, the 28^th pick in the 2024 draft, is another former Texas wideout with traits similar to Golden.

Worthy is also 5-foot-11, but just 165 pounds. Worthy ran the 40-yard dash in 4.21 seconds, a touch faster than Golden.

Many wondered how the Chiefs would use Worthy, who like Golden, doesn’t have prototypical size. Well, Kansas City coach Andy Reid moved Worthy around the chess board, and the dynamic rookie finished last season with 59 catches for 638 yards, six receiving touchdowns and three more rushing touchdowns.

Now, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur will need to find similar ways to take advantage of Golden’s skill set.

“I will say with the way Matt and his staff are able to kind of be creative and use these guys, that gives me a lot of flexibility with what I’m looking at, too,” Gutekunst said. “They do such a good job with scheming some of these guys and using them to their best ability. It does make it easier for me so we don’t feel like we have to do this or we have to do that, that Matt and his staff will find a way to make these guys productive.”

Green Bay’s roster is one of the better ones in football. There’s talent and depth across the board.

What the Packers needed this weekend was playmakers that can tilt the field.

Philadelphia, Detroit, Washington and others are loaded with Pro Bowlers and difference makers. Green Bay believes it added one to the mix Thursday night, which kept the party at Lambeau Field going late into the night.

“I never felt nothing like it,” Golden said of walking across the stage in front of his now home town fans. “Man, I wish I could go right back out there right now. It was so cool, the energy that the Packers’ fans got. I mean, I could just feel it and I’m just so excited to be here.”

So was Packer Nation, on a night where the green and gold became green and Golden.