There’s an old saying in football circles that you can’t teach speed. The Bills could use more of it on offense to make a great unit even more dangerous.
It’s something head coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane have talked about quite a bit this offseason.
Well, how about adding the fastest receiver in this year’s draft? Matthew Golden from Texas called his shot before the NFL scouting combine.
“I’m a run fast man, I’m a run fast for sure,” Golden said.
And he did not disappoint, running the 40-yard dash in a blazing 4.29 seconds in Indianapolis. But his game is about more than just straight-line speed.
- Texas WR Matthew Golden: 5’11, 191 lbs.
- 4.29 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine (fastest among 2025 WRs)
- 987 rec. yards in 2024 (58 receptions, 17 yards per catch, 9 receiving TDs)
- 13 receiving TDs and 2 kickoff return TDs at Houston in 2022 and 2023
“Being able to play inside and out. I’m versatile. I can get open anywhere on the field,” Golden said. “I like to pride my game in special teams too, being able to change the game whenever. Being able to do all of those things in one. And then I like to compete in the run game. I love blocking. I’m a player that loves to develop my game all around.”
After transferring from Houston to Texas for his final season, Golden led the Longhorns in receiving yards and averaged 17 yards per catch with 9 touchdowns.
He’s picked some pretty good players to look up to when it comes to NFL receivers.
“Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson. He’s an elite route runner,” Golden said of Jefferson. “And then Chase, the way he attacks the ball in the air. I try to do that each time the ball comes to me, make the most, because I treat one play like I’m not going to get the play back. Just doing that and competing, man.”
For teams looking for the added bonus of special teams, Golden can be special there too, with a couple of kickoff return touchdowns in college.
The Bills added former Chargers WR Joshua Palmer in free agency to help bolster the position. Mack Hollins left for the Patriots, and Amari Cooper remains unsigned. The group is currently headlined by Khalil Shakir, who signed a four-year contract extension after a strong showing in the slot last season. The club is looking for more from second-year wideout Keon Coleman after an up-and-down rookie season. Curtis Samuel is coming off a difficult year in which he dealt with injuries, but did ramp up his production later in the campaign.
The Bills manta at wide receiver is ‘everybody eats.’ That proved fruitful in an MVP season for Josh Allen, but they could certainly use a playmaker to help the entire group feast even more.