The New England Patriots have a tough decision to make at the start of free agency on Monday. Do they re-sign defensive Trey Flowers or do they let him walk? The answer is simple. Let him walk.

Bill Belichick has to resist the temptation and not over spend to keep Flowers. As valuable as he is, Flowers is also easily replaceable.

I understand that it is tough to move on from a player that you drafted and developed, especially one that is a good scheme fit but if Belichick is really about doing what is best for the team, he cannot overpay Flowers.

Flowers career numbers do not warrant a big pay day. He has 164 tackles, 21 sacks, 25 tackles for loss and 59 hits in three full seasons. Flowers only played one game in his rookie season due to injury. His numbers are by no means terrible but they are also not worth $15 to $18 million dollars per season which is probably what Flowers will land annually on a new deal.

I understand that he is a well rounded player who can play in multiple alignments but the truth of the matter is, defensive ends in the NFL get paid to rush the passer and Flowers numbers in that area are not elite.

Flowers will have several suitors once free agency starts most notably the Miami Dolphins who are now being coached by former Patriots defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Miami released Robert Quinn last week and they are not re-signing Cameron Wake. Flowers will be a primary target of theirs in free agency.

Teams should always be willing to give players they drafted their second contract but only if it makes sense for the franchise long term. Giving Flowers $17 million over five years and guaranteeing half of that contract does not make sense for the Patriots.

Flowers has been a good player the past three years but the Patriots have enough depth at defensive end between Deatrich Wise, Derek Rivers, Adrian Clayborn and the newly acquired Michael Bennett to withstand his loss.