Don't consider this confirmation of any sort the Steelers are interested in ex-Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers - a player released Friday by the Chiefs in a salary cap move.
But that doesn't mean it's impossible, either.
Jason at Over The Cap puts the Steelers $6.8 million under the 2014 salary cap after the extension given to center Maurkice Pouncey and the signing of Dri Archer. Second round pick Stephon Tuitt has not yet signed. While it would appear any additional money spent on free agents might be more wisely spent on a veteran defensive lineman, much of that could be based on pro-depth supporters of the Steelers' cornerbacks.
Flowers, a second round pick out of Virginia Tech in 2008, played some of his best football as a pro when Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley was the Chiefs head coach in 2009-10. While not watching over him directly, Haley might be able to vouch for the kind of role Flowers would play in Pittsburgh.
Then again, with several teams with $15 million or more in available cap space, it would seem more likely he could get more money this year by signing elsewhere.
Joel Thorman of Arrowhead Pride vouches for him:
Yes. Most definitely. He is a smart, dependable and tough player. He was the Chiefs top cornerback for the last six seasons. Many Chiefs fans, including myself, wish the Chiefs could've found a way to keep him because they are a better team with him than without him. It just didn't work in Kansas City but it easily could elsewhere. He is 28 years old and fits in many schemes. Some team out there is going to get a good cornerback.
And the Chiefs had very little room against the salary cap themselves, so the move to release him makes sense. They saved $7.5 million in his release.
Pre-Flowers release, the Chiefs had $2,632,465 in cap space
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) June 13, 2014
At the risk of getting over-excited about the idea, one might speculate some of the reason the Steelers didn't take a cornerback in this draft before the fifth round because they felt they could work their roster to the point of having available space free for the Second Bonanza of Free Agency - the post-OTAs period where decisions are made on veterans after seeing rookies step onto the field. Veterans like Flowers, who carry $10.5 million salary cap charges, may be replaceable.