Steelers offer to RFA WR Mike Wallace: one-year, $2.7 million

[jmt57]

I know I probably shouldn't be starting another Mike Wallace thread, but the other one had grown so long it had pretty much run its course.

Anyways, the current update is that the Steelers have offered Wallace a one-year contract worth $2.742 million, and they have the right to match any deal that another team offers him. The Steelers would still get a first round pick as compensation if Wallace signs elsewhere.


Steelers offer Wallace, five others 1-year deals - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Steelers offer contracts to 6 restricted free agents - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

 

[Bill B.]

Say we sign Wallace and the Steelers don't match. Would we only have to give them the 31st pick that is ours and not the 27th that we gained in a trade? Of course the Steelers and Pats could probably make some kind of sign and trade agreement for the 27th. To get Wallace would be worth it.

 

[UK_Pat37]

Desperation offer.

They basically saying they'll give him more than his tender is worth for a season so that he stays there and then they will guarantee he will either be allowed to hit the market next season or they will work to sign him long term when the cap space is in better condition.

That's a lot of trust to put into an employer. I say he tests the market still to see if anyone will offer the first rounder and the money.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Say we sign Wallace and the Steelers don't match. Would we only have to give them the 31st pick that is ours and not the 27th that we gained in a trade? Of course the Steelers and Pats could probably make some kind of sign and trade agreement for the 27th. To get Wallace would be worth it.

The rule is that you can use an earlier pick than your own pick in a given round if necessary, but (A) you can't use a later one, and (B) the prior team can't demand an earlier one. For example, if Cleveland tried to sign Wallace, they'd have to use their own first; they couldn't use Atlanta's.

 

[madmike77]

Desperation offer.

They basically saying they'll give him more than his tender is worth for a season so that he stays there and then they will guarantee he will either be allowed to hit the market next season or they will work to sign him long term when the cap space is in better condition.

That's a lot of trust to put into an employer. I say he tests the market still to see if anyone will offer the first rounder and the money.

It's not an offer. He's an RFA. $2.7 million is the price for a WR getting the 1st round tender.

Wallace has no choice but to take it - unless he gets a better offer. There's really no news - the $2.7 was expected all along since it was the standard 1st round tender offer.

EDIT: Sorry that wasn't as clear as it should have been. $2.7-million is the CBA-mandated offer for an RFA WR if a team wants to place the 1st round tender on him. All I was trying to say is it's not a number the Steelers came up with. If they wanted the 1st round pick back they had to offer him exactly $2.7 million.

 

[JoeSixPat]

My understanding is that teams would need to make an offer to Wallace that would be much more than $2.7 million for one season in order to get him... We're talking long term mega deal that just went up thanks to the Redskins signing Garçon.

By tendering him at that level the Steelers have one week to contemplate and potentially match any offer (which would probably be front loaded to prevent the Steelers from being able to match) and whichever team lands him would also have to give up a 1st round pick.

Because the Patriots woud be giving up what's nearly a 2nd round pick it makes it more feasible for them to make the offer than other teams, but it's the money and the one week waiting period that gives one pause.

Even temporarily tying up that amount of cap space for one week while other free agents sign elsewhere will be difficult for the Patriots or any team to do, which could lead to the Patriots missing out on free agents AND missing out on Wallace if the Steelers find a way to match, so there's a lot of factors working against the Patriots on this one, even aside from a high salary (and I say that as someone who really likes Wallace and what he'd bring to the Patriots.)

 

[Banjo]

Let's offer 8-9 million a year. Either the Steelers match it and have less cap, or we get him. Win-win

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

honestly, i haven't heard anything from any pats writers on the pats interest in any WR other than the one from st.louis

 

[madmike77]

Let's offer 8-9 million a year. Either the Steelers match it and have less cap, or we get him. Win-win

That's about what it would take. And it would need to be front-loaded. 10 million+ in the first year would pretty much guarantee the Steelers let him walk.

 

[EJ Blitz]

honestly, i haven't heard anything from any pats writers on the pats interest in any WR other than the one from st.louis

The PFW guys have been talking about Wallace as much as Lloyd, you could even say they want Wallace more so. At least that's the impression I get from listening to their podcast.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Reiss on Wallace not being a smart business move:

To sign him, it's going to have to be a rich, rich deal so the Steelers don't match, and it would have to be front-loaded with a high cap number. Because of that, I'm just not sure it's good business for the Patriots. I'd like to see them draft the "next" Wallace. That, to me, is the winning approach -- drafting and developing -- and the more fiscally responsible.

 

[Ring 6]

Let's offer 8-9 million a year. Either the Steelers match it and have less cap, or we get him. Win-win

That is what Garcon got. Garcon can't carry Wallaces gym bag.

 

[jsull87]

Let's offer 8-9 million a year. Either the Steelers match it and have less cap, or we get him. Win-win

I've thought about this how about offering him a 5 million per year deal? Could the stealers match that?

If not we are getting a sweet deal and they are losing a deep threat.

But i guess on the flip side he won't have to sign the deal if he doesn't want to.

 

[dizi24]

I've thought about this how about offering him a 5 million per year deal? Could the stealers match that?

If not we are getting a sweet deal and they are losing a deep threat.

But i guess on the flip side he won't have to sign the deal if he doesn't want to.

Why would Wallace ever accept a 5 million per year deal???

 

[MP-Logick]

What a crew...Laurence Maroney, some guy, the Law Firm...and Mike Wallace!

 

[madmike77]

I've thought about this how about offering him a 5 million per year deal? Could the stealers match that?

If not we are getting a sweet deal and they are losing a deep threat.

But i guess on the flip side he won't have to sign the deal if he doesn't want to.

Yes they would gladly match that. But Wallace likely wouldn't sign it. He'd play one year at 2.7 and then be a UFA next year and likely get 10+ per year.

 

[supafly]

Let's offer 8-9 million a year. Either the Steelers match it and have less cap, or we get him. Win-win

This offer of 8-9 million per could actually potentially HELP the Steelers in this instance.

They are looking at having to pay him at least 9-10 million next yr in FA as an URFA or lose him to FA, and they'd probably match that offer of 8-9 this yr in a heartbeat...and consider it a favor at this point.

Then again, it is kind of difficult to project exactly how much Wallace would demand, so you may be closer to the figure than I think. At least the 9 million part of it anyway.

 

[ausbacker]

That is what Garcon got. Garcon can't carry Wallaces gym bag.

The Rooney family has a decorated history of success in the NFL. Dan Snyder, well he doesn't.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Reiss on Wallace not being a smart business move:

Darn it, now why didn't Belichick think of that?!

Just draft and develop the NEXT Wallace!

It's so simple and yet so affordable! If only someone had suggested it sooner!

(actually I'm sure he will draft receivers as he has in the past, but even some of the best receivers out there have needed time to develop and I'd think that Belchick will be interested in some immediate help, which means free agency or trade.)

 

[WhiZa]

Let's say a team would like Mike Wallace, but won't be able to pay Jackson/Garcon money for him. Couldn't they just sign him to a 5 year - 25 million dollar deal just to force the Steelers to match and pay more against the cap this year? It's all hypothetical, and besides being a jerk why don't teams do it more often?