GREEN BAY, Wis. — Fans were amazed and appreciative that the NFL’s smallest city could host one of the league’s biggest events, the NFL draft, and their mood was brightened ever more when the hometown Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round on Thursday.
An estimated 125,000 people were gathered outside historic Lambeau Field on Thursday before the start of the draft, per local news reports. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Green Bay had a population of 105,744 in 2023.
“This is Green Bay’s Super Bowl,” said Donnie Renard Jr., who was part of a three-generation delegation that also included his father, Donnie, and 20-year-old son, Tommy.
Renard made the trip from Wabeno, Wis., about 85 miles north of Green Bay. His son is from Wausau in the center of the state, and his dad — a lifelong Packers fan — still lives in Green Bay.
“My dad’s actually been to a Super Bowl, a Pro Bowl, the Hall of Fame Game and now the draft,” said Renard, adding that they would be back on both Friday and Saturday.
All three of the Renards were pleased with the selection of Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden with the 23rd pick in the first round. The speedy Golden was timed in a blistering 4.29 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.
“I like it,” Tommy Renard said. “We needed a true No. 1, and I think he’s going to be it.”
Golden is the first wide receiver drafted in the first round by the Packers since Javon Walker in 2002. He spent two years at Houston before transferring last season to Texas, where had 58 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns.
“It’s always been a dream of mine to go in the first round,” Golden said. “And to know that they haven’t picked a receiver since 2002, it’s truly a blessing.”
Golden said he is looking forward to playing with Packers quarterback Jordan Love, who passed for 3,389 yards last season despite missing two games, and 4,159 yards in 2023. He threw for a combined 57 touchdowns over those two seasons.
“Talented quarterback, he can get outside the pocket and make plays, and he damn sure can throw the ball,” Golden said. “I’m going to let him know as soon as I see him, ‘Man, you’ve got a reliable target. You can trust me.’ But trust is built over time, so going out there, like I said, and competing, and gaining everyone’s trust, that’s where it first starts.”
Despite being from nearby Kaukauna, about 25 miles south of Green Bay, Adam Schmidt was decked in two Minnesota Vikings jerseys.
“I became a Vikings fan in kindergarten,” said Schmidt, pulling up the outer jersey to reveal an older one underneath. “… It still kind of fits. Randy Moss.”
Schmidt said he thought the first day of the draft was a huge success, despite the size of Green Bay, or maybe because of it.
“I think it was awesome. Not just for Green Bay, but the entire area,” Schmidt said. “It’s tough to host a huge event like this while still having that small-town atmosphere. It feels awesome and I think the whole community is really proud.”
–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media
