Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is currently a restricted free agent testing the waters after two solid seasons. However, one teammate expects Wallace to be back.
Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown in an interview on NFL Total Access stated that he expects Wallace will be back with the team. That most likely will be the case as there has been a lack of interest in Wallace. The apparent lack of interest isn’t due to his ability to perform as Wallace last year caught 72 passes for 1,193 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. For that Wallace was selected to his first ever Pro Bowl.
The lack of interest is most likely due to his first round tender. That means if any team signs Wallace to an offer sheet, the Steelers can match it or will get a first round draft pick as compensation, and Wallace’s high salary demands combined with a first round draft pick has likely blunted interest.
If the Steelers do intend to keep Wallace long term they will have to sign him to a long term contract as Wallace has played three seasons in the NFL. That means if Wallace were to sign his tender and play it out he would be an unrestricted free agent after the 2012 season. The only other way the Steelers would be able to keep him then would be to franchise tag him and that comes with a hefty price.
