Potential Steelers First-Round Target Showed Out at NFL Combine
Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden turned heads at the NFL Combine by posting a blazing-fast 4.29 (official) 40 time. Golden, who could be an option for the Steelers in the first round, certainly improved his draft stock this weekend.
Golden met formally with the Steelers at the Combine. Golden said that they didn’t talk much ball but it gave him an opportunity to let them know his story and who he is as a person.
In his first mock draft of the 2025 NFL Draft cycle, NFL.com draft guru Daniel Jeremiah projected that the Steelers will select Golden at 21st overall.
“I don’t think the Steelers could go wrong drafting Golden or Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka here,” Jeremiah wrote. “They go with Golden in this case, but they are both professional route runners with outstanding hands and toughness.”
Golden is a junior who played one season at Texas after transferring from Houston in 2024. The 6-foot, 195-pound Houston native saw his stock rise dramatically late in the 2024 season. As Texas made a run to the College Football Playoff semifinals, Golden was a key part of the Longhorns’ offense.
He had his two best games of the season on Dec. 7 in the SEC Championship Game against George, when he caught eight passes for 162, and then in Peach Bowl against Arizona State, when he caught seven passes for 149 yards and one touchdown.
Golden’s average position at NFL Mock Draft Database was No. 225 on Dec. 24, but he’s skyrocketed since and now sits as the No. 39 players on the consensus big board.
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Ohio State star wide receiver Emeka Egbuka had a formal interview with the Steelers, which was run by head coach Mike Tomlin. Egbuka, who’s from Washington, also said he grew up a Seattle Seahawks fan and idolized Russell Wilson.
Egbuka is considered one of the top wide receivers in this year’s class, and he could be an ideal fit with the Steelers, who are in desperate need of wide receiver help. The former Buckeye has been linked to the Black and Gold in numerous mock drafts this offseason.
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III also met formally with the Steelers at the NFL Combine. All three receivers could be options for the Steelers in the first round.