Analyzing Mike Wallace’s Top 5 Potential Suitors If He Gets Traded
There has been a lot of buzz about Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Mike Wallace‘s future lately. Reports have ranged from the disgruntled receiver skipping off-season organized team activities, possibly being traded, being unwilling to sign Pittsburgh’s one-year tender, and a potential lengthy holdout.
At this point, it’s anyone’s guess as to exactly what happens. Is he likely to be traded before the draft ends this month? According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette via Twitter, that “ain’t happening”.
Pretty convincing words. However, inside reporters have been wrong before, and Wallace has been sticking to his guns about wanting a long-term deal. If the holdout threat is real, the Steelers will either have to cough up the dough for a big contract, or trade him away to someone who will. That, or endure the possibility of a lengthy holdout that really just wouldn’t be good for anyone involved.
I’m not saying what will happen just yet. But if Wallace does get traded (which would have to be for at least a first-round pick), then we ought to at least look at some possible destinations.
Note: This is mere speculation, as no teams have yet openly stepped up and revealed interest in Wallace.
New York Jets
The Jets have no one after Santonio Holmes, and Plaxico Burress won’t be back. New York is down to drafting a wide receiver with their first pick in this year’s draft, or bringing back Braylon Edwards. They could bring in Terrell Owens, too, but that would really stink of desperation. They’d have to spend at least a first-rounder to land Wallace, but it’d be worth it, as he’s already better than any receiver they could get in this year’s draft. The only question is, would they be gung-ho about paying Wallace the big bucks he’s demanding?
Denver Broncos
Denver got a “real” quarterback by signing Peyton Manning. Sure, they have some nice, young talent on their roster around Manning, but they don’t have anyone close to Wallace’s talent. If they could make room to shell out the dollars to Wallace, they could easily explain a first-round draft pick away. There has already been talk about getting Manning a weapon in the passing game in the first round, anyways, so why not get a sure thing?
St. Louis Rams
The Rams have been rumored to be interested in upgrading at wide receiver for some time. They’ve had relative draft whiffs the past two years, and somehow Danny Amendola is still their best wideout. St. Louis already traded down in the draft, so why not just trade their first-rounder altogether, and land the young Sam Bradford a legit play-maker for the next 5-6 years? It’s a bit of a reach, sure, but people have to know the Rams aren’t about to tear it up on offense with a receiving corps led by Amendola and Danario Alexander.
Buffalo Bills
Buffalo is another team that has been rumored to be interested in landing a big-time receiver. They missed on Vincent Jackson and Robert Meachem, so perhaps they forego getting a marquee tackle in the first round of this year’s draft, and simply decide to get Ryan Fitzpatrick another elite weapon. They have Stevie Johnson locked up for a while, but they have very little help on offense behind him. After beefing up their defense in free agency, a move like this could be the missing piece that puts the Bills on the same level of the Jets and Patriots in 2012.
Minnesota Vikings
I’m only putting Minnesota because this is a move they should make. Percy Harvin is their number one receiver, and he’s never even topped 1,000 yards receiving in a season. Plain and simple: he’s better suited as a number two, and everyone behind him is no better than a number three guy. If Christian Ponder is ever going to have a real chance at succeeding, the Vikings need to get him a big-time weapon. They could do it in this year’s draft, but why not just get a guy they know can get it done, and lock him up for half a decade?
