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Mike Wallace, Restricted Free Agent: Dare To Dream

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Over the past few weeks, we've had plenty of discussion about the 49ers options at wide receiver as they look to add some possible playmakers. Guys like Dwayne Bowe and Vincent Jackson could bring a new dimension to the 49ers passing game. There are some potentially great receivers in the draft as well that could provide some long term stability at the receiver position.

One guy I had overlooked entirely prior to yesterday is Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace. The Steelers big playmaker is a restricted free agent coming off back-to-back seasons in which averaged 66 receptions, 1,225 yards and nine touchdowns. He averaged 18.6 yards per reception and was a monster once he got the ball in his hands.

I had not really considered Wallace because of his restricted free agent status and my thought that the Steelers would make sure to bring him back. That might not be the case now. The Steelers are projected as being several million dollars over the salary cap heading into the 2012 offseason. The common thought is they will simply go with the first round tender on Wallace instead of the franchise tag.

The franchise tag would just about guarantee the return of Wallace, but the Steelers can't really afford the amount they would have to pay on the tag. If Wallace signs his franchise tender, the entire salary (aproximately $9.4M) hits the 2012 cap and there are no signing bonuses and other incentives to spread out the cap hit.

I consider Wallace to the 49ers a dream in part because of the price it will cost to secure his services. The 49ers have cap space, but they have plenty of their own free agents to consider before looking at outside big ticket free agents. Nonetheless, it is still at least a little fun to consider the possibility of a ridiculous deep threat like Wallace. Whether you send him on a go route or you throw a quick hitch to him and see what he can do after breaking the first tackle attempt.

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wallace is just ginn with hands

id like to have him and ginn that would be cray. send ginn on screen davis on a seem wallace on a go and crabs on quick slant pic your poison. i think v jackson would be more of a match up knightmare though. i wonder why people always say vernon is our fastest player. he has good speed but we have around 5 players i think can out run him. 2 for sure and i think delanie walker would give him a run for his money

by RBoogy29 on Feb 18, 2012 7:04 AM PST reply actions  

The only players that might outrun him

are Kyle and Ginn. Delanie prolly could give a decent challenge tho

by blue42red30 on Feb 18, 2012 11:56 AM PST up reply actions  

Well we have Colin Jones tramain Brock as well. Chris culliver looks pretty fast too

by RBoogy29 on Feb 19, 2012 8:45 AM PST via mobile up reply actions  

The possibility of obtaining Wallace may be more realistic than we thought ...

Of all 32 teams in the NFL, the Steelers are in the very worst position with respect to the cap … while the Niners are at ~ $103 million (EXCLUDING the rollover from 2011), the Steelers are at a whopping ~ $149 million. If you assume that this years cap will be somewhere around $124 million, it’s obvious that the Steelers are in BIG TROUBLE … they will have to make massive restructurings, cuts, et.al. I’m sure that they want to retain Wallace … but can they afford him?

by 49erFanSince1950 on Feb 18, 2012 8:06 AM PST reply actions  

$9.4M ? Ha-ha, yeah sure.

Agent Dunham....Walternate testified that in his universe, AleX Smith is a pro-bowl QB for the Saints, and broke Trent Dilfer's season record of 6000 yards passing. Walter....Thats nice, more LSD please.

by scrappydog on Feb 18, 2012 8:17 AM PST reply actions  

Hes way more proven than anyone else they getting at 30

I would do this in a heartbeat

Raja Bell at the scorer's table: "We consistently do dumb s---."

by EcERyda69 on Feb 18, 2012 8:40 AM PST via mobile up reply actions  

Ideally, I would too...

But wouldn’t it be technically like spending #30 on him AND our one key FA acquisition? Understood that they’d still have the ability to sign some more guys to low-dollar deals, but I’d almost rather prefer to sign a WR before the draft and use #30 on a DLineman or CB, OG, whatever… and then take another WR in rounds 2-4 or so.

by Gob on Feb 19, 2012 9:04 AM PST up reply actions  

Easy decision but

the Steelers will have to cut someone else to retain him, which has to be a priority for them.

by oldfoggy on Feb 18, 2012 8:59 AM PST reply actions  

Do we really want Wallace or d jax?

Everybody keeps talking about “matchup nightmare” and “who do you cover?” when our priority is to find a wide receiver to help on third down and red zone who will work within our slightly WCO. We dont need a speedy deep threat. We need a big strong third down and red zone wr.

by YouCantTakeTheSkyFromMe on Feb 18, 2012 9:14 AM PST via mobile reply actions  

I think Wallace is better

I’d love to have him on our team, but I doubt it will happen.

by mrg80 on Feb 18, 2012 9:30 AM PST up reply actions  

it would be a dream

Wallace is lightning fast and seems to make Ben look good

David Akers is the Tebow of kickers

by Grabtree15 on Feb 18, 2012 9:41 AM PST via Android app reply actions  

Hate to be the pessimist, but there would be a ton of teams ready to make this deal, all picking ahead of us. If, this is a deal that gets done, move Crabtree please!

Gonna make the WR position relevant again? When?

by rlott#42 on Feb 18, 2012 9:44 AM PST reply actions  

contract

I don’t think the particular pick is a big deal as far as who could get him. It’ll come down to who offers the most money. If (for argument’s sake) the Colts offered Wallace a contract of 5 years $45 million and the 49ers offered a contract of 5 years, $55 million, Wallace is the one choosing which offer sheet to sign, not the Steelers.

by David Fucillo on Feb 18, 2012 10:00 AM PST up reply actions  

I think we got a better shot at Wallace than we do V Jackson.

However I think out of all the top FA WR, our best shot would be Bowe. I think we have a very realistic shot at getting him.

by Johnveeskys on Feb 18, 2012 6:43 PM PST up reply actions  

Well 1 in a 100 is better than 1 in a 1000

So yah I guess we do. But anyways Bowe has actually put his demands out for KC 5 years 45 million. He’ll be worth more on the open market.

I think the most likely landing place for Bowe… Is with Payton Manning in his hometown of Miami.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 19, 2012 12:11 AM PST up reply actions  

Payton, Brandon Marshall, Dwayne Bowe, Reggie Wayne

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 19, 2012 12:23 AM PST up reply actions  

Peyton's gonna get a lot of money wherever he goes

but Miami is only $7mil under the cap as of right now. I don’t know that they could afford all those guys, and by most accounts Jeff Ireland is no genius.

I think if we can offer comparable deals to any of these guys, we’ve got a great shot. Upstart organization, young team, and most importantly (I think) a great coach. Guys want to be coached by those who respect them and care for them as more than just players, and I think word will spread around the league (if it even needs to) that Jim Harbaugh is just about as player-oriented as you can be. That, coupled w/ the fact that they’ll have a new home in 2-3 years, could be huge factors. We’ll see.

by Gob on Feb 19, 2012 9:17 AM PST up reply actions  

They've got another 9 million to roll over

Plus Yeremiah Bell is 34 and is their 4th highest cap number. 6.4 Million. And Randy Starks is another 5 million. Both guys are highly overpaid. Trade Bell for a pick, cut or trade Starks. There’s 27 million right there. Then trade their picks forwards to next year so they have leverage to draft a tackle if they can’t afford to keep Long.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 19, 2012 6:40 PM PST up reply actions  

This is not too much of a Dream. Adam Schefter explained that......

It will be hard for Steelers to resign Wallace, And if the team that decides to sign him gives him a nice roster bonus up front that counts against the cap for the Steelers and they would have to let him go. The way Schefter explained it, chances are Wallace will not be in Pitt next year. Benglas, Ravens, and SF were the 3 teams he talked about also. I would think Wallace would rather come to SF rather than Baltimore!

by Johnveeskys on Feb 18, 2012 6:38 PM PST reply actions  

Here's hoping something might be worked out.

Mike Wallace would be an amazing addition to our team. Don’t want to play out the wazoo for him though, which we’d probably have to.

by Odekerk on Feb 19, 2012 3:27 AM PST reply actions  

I read that like Les Grosman

“You expect me to abandon my best friend of 10 years for a G5…?” “Yes” … “A G5… Airplane?” “And LOTS of money…”

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Feb 20, 2012 6:19 AM PST up reply actions   1 recs

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