If the Patriots find themselves in the market for a veteran cornerback in free agency, one possibility to file away is longtime Pittsburgh Steeler Deshea Townsend.
While much can change in four years, the Patriots had made a strong push to sign Townsend back in 2006, hosting him on a visit at Gillette Stadium. That doesn't necessarily mean the team will have interest this year but it is something to at least consider.
"I was there, and the situation came up where you have to pick the place where you want to be," Townsend recalled in 2006, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
In the end, Townsend chose to return to the Steelers.
Townsend, 34, has played 12 NFL seasons and started only six games over the last two seasons. If the Patriots do express an interest this year, it would most likely be with the idea of a veteran who could provide depth and possibly factor into the mix in sub packages.