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Sports Final: Will Free Agents Flowers, Brown & Gostkowski Be Back With Patriots?

BOSTON (CBS) -- NFL Free Agency is nearly upon us, with the legal tampering window opening at noon on Monday. Players cannot officially sign until the new league year opens on Wednesday at 4 p.m., but contracts can be negotiated between the player's agent and team.

And with a handful of players set to hit the open market, the Patriots may lose several key contributors over the next few days. The Patriots started their offseason moves on Friday with a surprise trade with the Eagles for defensive end Michael Bennett, which has many wondering if free agent Trey Flowers is heading elsewhere.

ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss joined Dan Roche on Sunday night's Sports Final on WBZ-TV to break down which Patriots we can expect to be back in 2019, and which players will be wearing different uniforms next season (Adrian Clayborn is not a free agent, but a potential cap casualty).

Trey Flowers

Trey Flowers
Trey Flowers (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

"It's all going to depend on what market is out there for him. I don't think Miami will be in it, but whether it's Detroit or Tennessee or another team with ties to the Patriots, maybe that ups the price. It reminds me a lot of [Devin] McCourty and [Dont'a] Hightower when they went out to market.

"I think he could be back. I don't think the door is closed. A lot of people think the door is closed after Bennett, but I don't think so. Not yet."

Adrian Clayborn

Adrian Clayborn
Adrian Clayborn (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

"I think he'll have a tough time coming back for year two. With a high cap number, it'll tough to be back back for year two."

Malcom Brown

Super Bowl LIII - New England Patriots v Los Angeles Rams
Patriots defensive tackle Malcom Brown gives chase after Rams quarterback Jared Goff during Super Bowl LIII. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

"That'll be one that the market dictates. My gut tells me probably not back, but door not closed.

Danny Shelton

Danny Shelton
Danny Shelton celebrates during Super Bowl LIII. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

"I'd think more not back. He was inactive for AFC title game against the Chiefs and that stays in my mind. Maybe better for both sides for a fresh start."

John Simon

Kyle Van Noy
Kyle Van Noy celebrates with John Simon. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

"I can tell you they are talking to him about a contract extension, it's a matter of if Simon likes the numbers."

Jason McCourty

Jason McCourty, Brandin Cooks
Jason McCourty breaks up a pass intended for Brandin Cooks. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

"Why not bring him back? What a great story this last year, great for the locker room. No reason not to in my mind."

Jonathan Jones

Jonathan Jones
Jonathan Jones celebrates with teammates. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Getty Images)

"No doubt in my mind that he is back, and I wouldn't be surprised if it's the second-round restricted free agent tender."

Eric Rowe

Eric Rowe
Eric Rowe (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

I don't think he's back. He's banged up and they've moved on with McCourty, Jon Jones, and Duke Dawson -- a second-round pick from last year will be back in the mix. I don't know if there's a spot for Eric Rowe on the Patriots.

Trent Brown

Trent Brown
New England Patriots left tackle Trent Brown. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

"Big Trent is going to probably get big money. That tells me he probably isn't going to be back. With all the teams that need offensive linemen, he's going to get a big contract that the Patriots feel is beyond their reach."

Reiss notes that Isaiah Wynn would likely take over for Brown if he departs, with free agent LaAdrian Waddle a good depth player.

Josh Gordon

Josh Gordon
Josh Gordon (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

"That's out of the Patriots' hands. You're not going to rely on him because it's an NFL suspension, and even if he is cleared to come back, what is your level of confidence that it'll stay the course? If you bring him back it's more of a fall-back."

Cordarrelle Patterson

Cordarrelle Patterson
Cordarrelle Patterson of the Patriots is tackled by Denzel Rice of the Buffalo Bills during New England's Week 16 win at Gillette Stadium. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

"That's a tough one. It was a good year, and I wouldn't be surprised if both sides went in a different direction. But that's just a gut feeling on that one."

Chris Hogan

Chris Hogan
Patriots receiver Chris Hogan. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

"I would be surprised if he's back. They had talked about coming back last year at a high salary figure and I'd be surprised at this point, after three years, if they come together."

Phillip Dorsett

Phillip Dorsett
Phillip Dorsett (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

"I think he wants to be a starter and that won't be the case in New England. If he can't be a starter somewhere else, I think he'll be back."

Stephen Gostkowski

Stephen Gostkowski
Stephen Gostkowski celebrates a successful kick vs. the Rams in Super Bowl LIII. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

"I think will be back. But when they signed him to an extension four years ago, they made him the highest-paid kicker. He's still the highest-paid, so I think it would have to be at a lower number."

Tune in to Sports Final and Sports Final OT every Sunday night at 11:35 p.m. on WBZ-TV!

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