Tampa Bay Buccaneers free agency 2019: Top 5 targets

2. DE/OLB Markus Golden (Arizona Cardinals)

It’s important to be accurate when it comes to the football connections here. The aforementioned Tyrann Mathieu did spend two years in coordinator Todd Bowles’ system. And while defensive end/outside linebacker Markus Golden did play for Bruce Arians for three seasons in the desert, keep in mind that the Cardinals used a second-round draft choice in 2015 to get the talented defender. Hence, he played under defensive coordinator James Bettcher and not Bowles. To be clear, the latter became head coach of the New York Jets the same year Golden entered the league in ’15.

Of course, it’s safe to assume that the 6’3”, 260-pound pro should be able to contribute in a number of ways to a Buccaneers’ defense that has been subpar for far too long. As a rookie in ’15, he played in 15 games and made six starts at outside linebacker. There were 30 tackles, four sacks and two forced fumbles. In 2016, the Cardinals traded for talented Chandler Jones and Golden thrived. There were 16 contests and just three starts, but it added up to 51 stops, 12.5 QB traps, four forced fumbles and an interception.

Injuries limited the standout pass rusher to four games the following year. And this past season, with new head coach Steve Wilks, he was moved to left defensive end in the team’s 4-3 and looked out of place. It would be fascinating to see Golden in Bowles’ system.

Next: Deone Bucannon