Steelers WR Mike Wallace: Franchise Tag?

[Coachnorm]

There is more talk going around now that Steelers WR Mike Wallace may receive The Steelers Franchise tag. Wallace is a Restricted Free Agent. He can be given a first round tender. This would mean he gets paid more then he is currently paid, 2.7 Million. But ,then other teams can offer him more money and give the Steelers a first round pick. The Steelers would be able to match any offer and keep Wallace but any team can make a deal.

If the Steelers give Wallace the Franchise tag they would have to pay him a lot more money, avg of top 5 WRs. But then they have exclusive rights when it comes to trading Wallace and can control which team he ends up at.

 

[storminn0rm]

(Rotoworld) NFL Network's Jason La Canfora agrees with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the Steelers are "more likely" to place a first-round restricted tender on Mike Wallace, rather than franchise tag him. Analysis: Placing only the tender on Wallace would leave Pittsburgh open to being poached for its top wideout by teams willing to fork over a long-term contract and a first-round draft pick. One such club could be the division-rival Ravens, who draft 29th overall. The cap-strapped Steelers may see the monetary difference between the tender ($2.742 million) and tag ($9.6 million) as worth the risk.

 

[Phicinfan]

Pittsburgh is in a world of hurt. They are one of 5 teams, I believe, that are currently over cap for this year. They have reworked 3 contracts and are working on Roethlisburger as we speak. Still, if they just tender, it is only ONE first round pick to sign the RFA. All you have to do is find a team with more cap....which basically is all now, and sign a big deal that Pittsburgh can't match. I don't think they can even afford to tag Wallace. Add to that, that Sanders and Brown are in the same position next year. Not a good time to be the Steelers....