7 month old golden keeps stealing socks - any advice?

So my golden Biscuit turned 7 months last week and he has developed this obsessive sock-stealing habit. Like not just picking one up occasionally, i'm talking he will literally follow me to the laundry basket and grab a sock the second i set it down. then he runs around the house like he just won the lottery.

ive tried the "drop it" command which he knows in training sessions but the second a sock is involved he acts like he's never heard those words in his life. my trainer said he might be going through a "mouthy phase" but its been 3 weeks of this and i have more single socks than pairs now lol

anyone else deal with this? does it get better? im wondering if i should get him one of those snuffle mats to redirect him but not sure if thats the right move or if im just teaching him that stealing things leads to rewards