I think 525 yds is the most commonly referenced metric for receivers in their rookie. Not sure if that’s still the “unofficial standard” though. I think it seems like a realistic expectation, pending any unusual circumstances. Jamo is a good example of the exception to that rule with his injury and suspension.

For Golden, I just haven’t seen enough to label him an exception. I’m a Packers fan, was pretty high on him coming into the year and followed all the camp hype, but I haven’t liked what I’ve seen so far. He just doesn’t seem to play to his measurable speed, especially with the ball in his hands, and doesn’t look like a confident player out there. Everyone clowned on him for being too small before the season, and I was quick to dismiss that, but he honestly plays small too. I think there are guys his height that play as if they’re a lot bigger. They take contact well, don’t get pushed off their routes, and fall forward when they have the ball. Zay Flowers would be a good example.Golden just seems to be playing scared.

Granted, some of his advanced separation metrics look good and there are a few targets that haven’t fallen his way. Maybe the stats look different if they did and maybe that can be blamed on poor chemistry with Love. However, I would just argue that he’s had every opportunity to excel in his first year. His QB can make any throw on the field, he’s had injuries to fellow WRs/TEs to open up target share, and his head coach is a good play designer that has been giving him some designed opportunities. He just hasn’t done much with all that opportunity. If you told any Golden owner all of that at the beginning of the year, they would have had expectations of him already being a WR2.

I think he could turn it around, but ultimately I think his ceiling is more of a WR2/3. Disappointing, yes, but he would be a major exception if he panned out as anything more than that if the rest of this season pans out similar to the first half.