With a blistering 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine and an undeniable swagger, Matthew Golden has become one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 class and teams such as the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are circling.
Golden finished last season with 58 receptions for 987 yards and 9 touchdowns, but it was more than the numbers that turned heads. Golden is a smooth operator with breakaway speed, elite footwork, and big-play ability that kept opposing defenses guessing all season long.
Standing at 5’11” and 191 pounds, he doesn’t overwhelm with size, but his dynamism after the catch and deep-threat potential make him a nightmare to defend.
Jerry Jones works his charm
With the Cowboys needing to give CeeDee Lamb a reliable counterpart, Golden might just be the perfect fit. And after a recent visit to The Star in Frisco, that connection feels real.
“I mean, that’s Jerry Jones, you know-he’s kind of legendary, you know what I’m saying?” Golden said during an appearance on the Up & Adams Show. “Being there, being able to meet Jerry, you know, it was-it was cool. It was a cool moment for me.”
The moment got even cooler when Jones went full-on family mode, telling Golden to call his mother-then hopping on the FaceTime call himself.
“He told me to call my mom. So I ended up calling her and FaceTimed her. I was like, I’ve got a surprise for you, and Coach Jerry was talking to her,” Golden recounted. “He was just talking to her, telling her she raised a great young man. All the hard work paid off, and she did a tremendous job with me.”
Meanwhile, Tampa Bay is making a strong push too. Despite re-signing veterans Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, the Bucs hosted Golden on a high-profile visit. He even posted an Instagram story hanging out with the duo, suggesting some serious interest.
Head coach Todd Bowles made it clear he won’t pass on elite offensive talent, regardless of positional need.
“Never bypass a very good offensive player,” Bowles said. “You can never have enough horses on offense.”
The Bucs hold the 19th pick, and if they value long-term insurance for their aging receiving corps, Golden could be a sneaky fit-especially in an offense that thrives on vertical threats and spacing.
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