The Green Bay Packers are going through mandatory OTAs this week. This will be the team’s final practices before training camp gets started next month. While we are still in the early stages of preparing for the 2025 season, the team’s starting quarterback and number one draft pick are already figuring out how to work better together. There is already chemistry developing between the duo and Jordan Love is encouraged by what he’s seen from top pick Matthew Golden.
Packers QB Jordan Love Encouraged by Matthew Golden: An Important Season for Love
This will be Love’s third season as the Packers starting quarterback. He has led the team to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons.
Love had a shaky first half of the 2023 season, but things clicked for him and his young receivers in the second half. He finished the final eight games of the year playing dominant football. The Utah State alum threw 18 touchdown passes and just one interception in that stretch. He then followed that up with a nearly perfect quarterback rating in the playoff win over Dallas.
In 2024, Love suffered an injury during the closing drive of the season opener against the Eagles in Brazil. He missed two games and was never fully healthy the rest of the season. While his statistics improved very slightly over the previous season, Love did not take a step forward in 2024. That left him open to some criticism although head coach Matt LaFleur defended him during the offseason.
The 2025 campaign will be a critical one for Love’s development and his future.
The Wide Receiver Room
The Packers entered the offseason with a lot of young talent at wide receiver but no proven number one at the position. They also knew that Christian Watson would miss at least half of the upcoming season after he suffered a knee injury during the season finale against the Bears which required surgery.
Players like Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, and Romeo Doubs all showed flashes of ability but suffered through inconsistent play. The Packers were near the top of the league in dropped passes over the course of the season.
At the Super Bowl, running back Josh Jacobs spoke to various media outlets indicating the Packers needed to add a go-to receiver. While this may have ruffled some feathers, there was some truth to what Jacobs said.
As a result, GM Brian Gutekunst selected wide receivers in the first and third round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In the first round, the Packers selected Matthew Golden out of Texas. They followed that up with the selection of Savion Williams in round three. Golden was drafted in part because the Packers feel he has the potential to become that go-to receiver with consistent hands that the team has lacked. He was also timed at 4.29 in the 40-yard dash, so he has great speed as well.
Packers QB Jordan Love Encouraged by Matthew Golden: Building Chemistry
Since OTAs started, Love and Golden have begun the process of developing chemistry during practices and drills.
Love has so far been impressed by Golden’s natural athletic ability and the progress he’s making at picking up the offense.
“I think from the get-go, from day one when he got here, he’s showcased just the versatility he has running routes, the speed he has and his ability to catch,” Love told reporters. “I think for him, every day he’s been getting better at just understanding what he needs to do. You could tell the first couple days there might be a couple of routes here and there where he just might be thinking a little bit too much out there and not just going out there and playing fast, which is expected for someone who just got here and is learning the whole offense and everything.”
“So, I think the faster he can pick up everything, which I think he’s been doing a great job of understanding where he needs to be and just knowing that, but obviously the more install, the more offense we put in, it gets harder. The more he can stay locked in with all that, I think he’s definitely going to be a playmaker for us and excited to see how far he can go.”
Looking Ahead
This is a process, and it will take time. Obviously, the more work the duo can put in, the faster they can develop into a dangerous duo. We still do not know how good Golden will be, but Love appears confident that he can develop into a dangerous NFL receiver. Packers fans are eager to find out what the potential of Love and Golden will ultimately be.
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