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2019 Free-Agent Watch: Divisional Round Sunday

Upcoming free-agents playing in Sunday’s pair of games this playoff weekend.

NFL: New England Patriots at New Orleans Saints Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

The final two games introduce the final two teams in our playoff free-agency watch. With the New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints both earning first round byes, there is definitely talent on each roster which could benefit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Who are they, are who should you be looking for this Sunday? We’ll tell you right here, and if you missed their opponents’ previews, go ahead and take a look at who the Chargers and Eagles have worth watching as well.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

2019 FREE-AGENTS

POSITION NAME AGE
POSITION NAME AGE
PUNTER RYAN ALLEN 29
DEFENSIVE TACKLE MALCOM BROWN 25
OFFENSIVE TACKLE TRENTON BROWN 26
WIDE RECEIVER PHILLIP DORSETT 26
DEFENSIVE END TREY FLOWERS 26
WIDE RECEIVER JOSH GORDON 28
KICKER STEPHEN GOSTKOWSKI 35
WIDE RECEIVER CHRIS HOGAN 30
WIDE RECEIVER CODY HOLLISTER 25
LINEBACKER RAMON HUMBER 32
OFFENSIVE TACKLE ULRICK JOHN 27
CORNERBACK JONATHAN JONES 25
DEFENSIVE END UFOMBA KAMALU 26
LINEBACKER ALBERT MCCLELLAN 33
CORNERBACK JASON MCCOURTY 32
WIDE RECEIVER CORDARRELLE PATTERSON 28
CORNERBACK ERIC ROWE 26
CENTER BRIAN SCHWENKE 28
DEFENSIVE TACKLE DANNY SHELTON 26
DEFENSIVE END JOHN SIMON 28
OFFENSIVE TACKLE LAADRIAN WADDLE 28

PLAYER TO WATCH: OFFENSIVE TACKLE, TRENT BROWN

NFL: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots have made some good trades in the past, and the one to get Brown is one of them.

After losing first-round draft pick Isaiah Wyn in Week 2 of the pre-season, the acquisition of Brown has looked better and better each week.

He’s been praised by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick alike, and will draw quite the crowd of suitors come this off-season.

The Patriots would surely love to keep him, and they could offer him a solid deal if they choose to extend one. However, it’s not as simple as do they like him or not.

For one, Wyn will be coming back. How confident the team is in Wyn’s return will play a part in this.

Brown can play both tackle positions, something which should be intriguing to the Buccaneers as they decide their own future at both tackle spots. This is something of interest to the Patriots too.

If Wyn does come back, and the team re-signs Brown, then releasing right tackle Marcus Cannon may come into play. However, this also leaves them exposed should Wyn or Brown get injured.

This isn’t a Patriots post, so let’s wrap this portion of the conversation up saying this, Brown has played impressively protecting Tom Brady’s blindside, and has played in the NFL at right tackle in the past.

How he stands up to Joey Bosa and the Los Angeles Chargers will go a long way towards his next paycheck, and determining which teams will come calling when the new league year gets started.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

2019 FREE-AGENTS

POSITION NAME AGE
POSITION NAME AGE
SAFETY CHRIS BANJO 29
LINEBACKER VINCE BIEGEL 26
QUARTERBACK TEDDY BRIDGEWATER 27
DEFENSIVE TACKLE JAY BROMLEY 27
WIDE RECEIVER DEZ BRYANT 30
GUARD JERMON BUSHROD 35
CORNERBACK KEN CRAWLEY 26
DEFENSIVE TACKLE TYELER DAVISON 26
CORNERBACK JUSTING HARDEE 25
TIGHT END MICHAEL HOOMANAWANUI 31
WIDE RECEIVER JOSH HUFF 27
RUNNING BACK MARK INGRAM 29
CORNERBACK RICKEY JEFFERSON 24
RUNNING BACK DANIEL LASCO 26
CENTER JOSH LERIBEUS 30
WIDE RECEVIER TOMMYLEE LEWIS 26
KICKER WIL LUTZ 25
OFFENSIVE TACKLE MICHAEL OLA 31
LINEBACKER CRAIG ROBERTSON 31
LINEBACKER MANTI TE'O 28
GUARD CAMERON TOM 24
TIGHT END BENJAMIN WATSON 38
CORNERBCAK P.J. WILLIAMS 26
DEFENSIVE END ZACH WOOD 26

PLAYER TO WATCH: KICKER, WILL LUTZ

NFL: New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Good kickers are hard to come by. Just ask the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Unless Lutz starts asking for Dan Bailey money, he’s probably getting locked down by the Saints.

Still, the 24-year old won’t turn 25 until next pre-season, and has gotten better all three seasons he’s been in the NFL.

This year, he had a made field goal percentage of 93.3%. Yep. Oh, and one of his two misses - all year - was blocked. His long was 54-yards, and he made all but one extra point.

So, including a blocked kick, Lutz has missed three attempts all year. Chandler Catanzaro had that many misses before the NFL season hit its eighth week of play, and he had a week off for Tampa Bay’s bye.

Similarly, in seven games with the Bucs after replacing Catanzaro, Cairo Santos missed five kicks. One fewer than his predecessor.

If Lutz hits the open market, Jason Licht should be gauging his interest in moving to Florida.

The only question for Bucs fans is, how much will not kicking in a dome nine games per year impact Lutz’ numbers? For what its worth, he went 12-for-12 on field goals and 14-for-14 on extra points in open air stadiums this year. All three of his misses came indoors.

Paige Dimakos of TD Fantasy and The Draft Network joins James and David to give insight on her close relationship with the Arians family, and gives an inside look on who the coach is when the cameras are off.

The Patriots and Saints take the field Sunday as they host the Los Angeles Chargers and Philadelphia Eagles respectively.

We won’t enjoy not seeing the Buccaneers playing, but we can keep an eye out for some future contributors to the cause.