An analog front-end (AFE) device and method for a high baud-rate receiver. The device can include an input matching network coupled to a first buffer device, which is coupled to a sampler array. The input matching network can include a first T-coil configured to receive a first input and a second T-coil configured to receive a second input. The first buffer device can include one or more buffers each having a bias circuit coupled to a first class-AB source follower and a second class-AB source follower. The sampling array can include a plurality of sampler devices configured to receive a multi-phase clocking signal. Additional optimization techniques can be used, such as having a multi-tiered sampler array and having the first buffer device configured with separate buffers for odd and even sampling phases. Benefits of this AFE configuration can include increased bandwidth, sampling rate, and power efficiency.