Report: Raiders among four teams vying to sign free agent edge rusher Markus Golden and they may have an advantage

One name who slipped through the cracks on many lists of top free agents this offseason was Markus Golden. That’s because we’re in a ‘what have you done for me lately?’ world and Golden has 2.5 sacks the past two seasons. But there are some NFL folks who didn’t forget that the 28-year-old had 12.5 sacks in 2016 before tearing his ACL.

So, despite his name not popping up much, there are four teams said to be competing for his services right now according to Vic Tafur of the Athletic. The Raiders are one of them along with the Chiefs, Buccaneers, and Giants.

As Tafur mentioned, there is a connection with Golden. His former defensive line coach in Arizona is Brentson Buckner who is the Raiders new DL coach. Buckner was the Cardinals’ DL coach when they made Golden their pick in the 2nd round of the 2015 draft and for the first three years of Golden’s career.

If all things are equal that connection could tip the scales to him joining the Raiders over the other interested suitors.

The only other team that may hold an advantage would be the Chiefs because Golden is a native of St Louis and stayed near home for college ball at Missouri. And the Chiefs just traded Dee Ford and released Justin Houston so they’re as desperate to sign a pass rusher as the Raiders are. If that’s even possible.