The 2025 NFL Draft was full of great moments, but one of the best highlights came when Packers CEO Mark Murphy took the stage to announce the Green Bay Packers first-round pick selection.
With the 23rd overall pick, Green Bay chose wide receiver Matthew Golden from Texas, marking the first time since 2002 that the Packers drafted a wideout on the first day.
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The crowd’s reaction right after Mark Murphy said “wide receiver” was something special. He nailed it by pausing just long enough before dropping the name, which made the moment even more electric.
When he finally announced Matthew Golden, the cheers from Packers fans brought the whole place to life — easily one of the best moments of the draft.
In an interview with FOX 11, Mark Murphy reflected on the 2025 NFL Draft and offered high praise for how Green Bay did a good job hosting the event.
Wide receiver Matthew Golden of Texas poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy after being selected by the Green Bay Packers during the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
“I know I’m a little biased, but I think in my mind, it’s been the best draft the NFL has ever had since they started taking it on the road,” Murphy said.
Murphy was then asked why he believed the 2025 Draft was the best yet.
“I’d say the excitement level and the statistics,” Murphy commented. “The smallest city in the league by far, and we had 600,000 people there. It speaks well, I think, for the kind of support we get, particularly from our fans. My guess would be about 90% of the fans there were Packers fans. Great attendance — second most ever behind Detroit — and the TV ratings were phenomenal. The Thursday night, 13.5 (million), was the most ever to watch the draft other than COVID. COVID, you don’t count. Everybody was locked in their homes having to watch TV, there was no other choice. But no, there was obviously an awful lot of interest.”
Pittsburgh and Washington will host the NFL Draft over the next two years. Although it may be some time before the event returns to Green Bay, the city made a strong impression, giving the league every reason to consider awarding them the chance to host again.
