He endured a nomadic childhood and grueling draft process, but Matthew Eaton has capped off an improbable journey signing with the Green Bay Packers.
The wide receiver didn’t hear his name called in the draft. Frankly, he didn’t care.
“I was just enjoying time with family, cousins, and all because I have a very large family,” Eatons said. “A lot of little cousins, nieces and nephews I was enjoying [time with.]”
The Iowa State alum underestimated the length of the entire affair.
“I had never realized how long the Draft was,” Eaton said. “The fifth round took the longest but it was pretty cool.”
Receiving the call from the Packers, it hit him that he will be working with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“He is arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL right now, definitely top five,” Eaton said about Rodgers. “It’ll be amazing to finally play alongside him and so many other guys with the Packers it’s an incredible organization and I’m just happy that I am a Green Bay Packer and that they’re giving me an opportunity to compete and that’s all I can ask for moving forward.”
Eaton, who is a big-bodied receiver, will be joining Pro Bowl wide receiver Devante Adams whom he shares a similar skillset with. There is not anything he does not want to learn from the Fresno State alum.
“[I am going to talk about] everything I can possibly talk to him about without him being annoyed [with me],” Eaton said. “I will definitely try to soak up everything I can, he’s an incredible, incredible receiver so and I’m definitely looking forward to learning a lot of the things that he does, I’ve been studying his game ever since he left Fresno State, he’s a dominant receiver, incredible route runner, understanding everything that’s poured into the game.”
Eaton will be joining his former Iowa State teammate wide receiver Allen Lazard in Wisconsin and is very excited to work with him again.
“I’m looking forward to getting into the receiver room and working with my former teammate Allen Lazard,” Eaton said. “I actually had a chance to train with a little bit after my pro day and it’s just a coincidence that me and him playing on the same team again so that’s pretty cool.”
Lazard has helped Eaton quite a bit in college and feels a little better having a friend in the same building.
“He’s been a great guy to me ever since I came to Iowa State,” Eaton said. “He’s been extremely helpful for a lot of things and I’m definitely excited to play alongside of him and have comfortability when I get there obviously with a familiar face, a guy I can call my brother, so I’m definitely ready.”
As an undrafted free agent, players have to overcome enormous odds to make the final roster. Eaton however, is only worried about the things he can control which is to play the game.
“I’m just gonna work as hard as I possibly can,” Eaton said. “Just doing the same thing I’ve been doing my entire career, control what I can and just put my best foot forward, everything will take care [of itself] and just let the chips fall where they may.”
From Guam to Green Bay, Eaton has moved to many places and hopes that Wisconsin will be his final destination.
Eaton is not only saying goodbye to Iowa State, he will also be saying goodbye to No.23 as a new era has come with a new jersey number.
“I believe they already gave me 84,” Eaton said. “So it’s looking like 84 is going to be my number with the Packers.”
