Plenty of us liked the way he looked before he ran the 40 because he has smooth routes and can get open against man coverage. While I tend to prefer seeing production, putting up stats doesn't guarantee future performance, either. It's all a projection game, and there are so many non-metric elements (such as health and attitude and work ethic and maturity) that none of us will ever get everything right. When looking at a projection, however, I think you have to look at traits that translate.
Can Golden get open against man and zone? Yes.
Can he catch the ball? Yes.
Can he dictate a safety shading his way in coverage? Yes (the 40 reinforces this but shouldn't push him up boards beyond checking the box).
When I evaluate a player, I'm interested in body control and awareness, or a dominating trait, which is why all occasionally advocate for limited players who are great at one thing -- DK Metcalf and his excellent releases against press man, for example. Golden looks like a Deion Branch or Stefon Diggs in that he's fluid and explosive. That's the kind of player I'd take a gamble on, even if he's not my first choice.
Great testing numbers aren't enough on their own to make a great prospect, but when the glimpses of putting it all together are there, excellent athleticism tells you that the player still has room to grow and develop. I wouldn't be surprised if he outperforms a number of receivers who had better stats in college. He could be a great fit with Maye.
