Mike Wallace anyone?

[cHaD711Johnson]

They aren't planning to make a move on Wallace . That's a dream, and it doesn't make much sense. Give our division rivals a first round pick and overpay for a guy who's going to be our #2 receiver. Kendall Wright would be a great target in the first round that has a higher ceiling than Wallace IMO.

[derekshank]

They aren't planning to make a move on Wallace . That's a dream

I'm aware that the probability of them doing this is pretty low. I've said this as recently as today.

Give our division rivals a first round pick and overpay for a guy who's going to be our #2 receiver. Kendall Wright would be a great target in the first round that has a higher ceiling than Wallace IMO.

Wallace would be the #1. He's proven more than AJ Green to this point.

And Kendall Wright has more upside? That's ridiculous. He's not as fast as you think... and Wallace is the fastest WR in the NFL.

More importantly... only Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Roddy White have more yards than him over the last two seasons... and that only Calvin Johnson has more TD catches than him over the last two seasons. If Kendall Wright has more upside than that, he'd be the 3rd overall pick in the draft.

[cHaD711Johnson]

If you think that Wallace would be the #1 over AJ then I don't know what to tell you.

Also, don't let the 40 time (which there has been much debate over the validity of) fool you. Kendall Wright has game speed. Wallace is one dimensional. I'm aware of his stats, but Wright has more upside than Wallace. He's not just a receiver depending on the go route. Are you aware that some teams have Wright as their #1 Receiver on their board? 5'11 receiver don't go #3 overall. Only a team like us would do that.

[derekshank]

If you think Wallace is one-dimensional, I don't know what to tell you. You clearly haven't watched him play. He's a top five wide receiver... And is far more than just a deep threat.

He requires a double-team on every play. CBs play off of him so that they don't get beat deep, and as a result he produces primarily on good route running underneath.

Green may be better than him eventually... but he's not yet. Only Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald are better than Wallace right now.

[HoosierCat]

I say we target this guy.

[cHaD711Johnson]

If you think Wallace is one-dimensional, I don't know what to tell you. You clearly haven't watched him play. He's a top five wide receiver... And is far more than just a deep threat.

He requires a double-team on every play. CBs play off of him so that they don't get beat deep, and as a result he produces primarily on good route running underneath.

Green may be better than him eventually... but he's not yet. Only Calvin Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald are better than Wallace right now.

Mike Wallace isn't a better receiver than Andre Johnson. He's a Top 10 receiver, but he is not in the elite class of receivers that you seem to think. If so, don't you think there would be teams flocking to throw a first round pick at the Steelers for him? He's young and very productive, yet there hasn't been a peep of interest from ANYONE to give up a first rounder to sign him. He's not elite, and he is a one dimensional receiver. He is strictly a speed receiver that isn't a great route runner. Yes, he can make plays underneath due to his speed, but that does not make him elite.

[bwillycuse]

I say we target this guy.

I say go get him. I wouldn't mind seeing dropped balls and wrong routes from a veteran. I'd rather have TJ in all honesty.

What kind of contract does it seem Wallace would sign? HE is getting 2.7 million this year if he stays with Steelers. He will be a dea man walking though, Steelers wont have money for him next year either.

3 year 25 mil? 4 Year 30mil?

Part of me thinks we could pull him free with 3 year 22 million - 10-12 million of it up front. I may be dreaming but that 2.7 million offer has to be irritating to Wallace.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Part of me thinks we could pull him free with 3 year 22 million - 10-12 million of it up front. I may be dreaming but that 2.7 million offer has to be irritating to Wallace.

It's unlikely given the low cost and high value of picks. That's why the Steelers know no one is touching him. A couple of years ago, the 1st round tender wouldn't be enough to keep him.

However...

If I truly believed in the guy, and wanted to take advantage of that huge amount of cap space we have, I'd get creative. I'd push a ton into year 1, less total for 3 years, and a 4th/5th year that amounts to a team option. I'd craft years 4 and 5 so they might look tasty when the TV contract (good call in other thread Army) and big rookie deals expire, driving up the price of guys like this.

I'd at least be happy making the Steelers match, which they probably would.

[BengalByTheBay]

Put me solidly in the "yes" camp for tendering an offer to Wallace. This is a solid two-fer. He is the Squeels number 1 and his loss would hurt them. He does a lot of damage underneath and that would pair very well with Green. His YAC is excellent. Whether you call him a number 1 or a number 2 or a number 12, he would instantly upgrade the other WR spot for the next few years and take that "need" off the board for the draft. But here's the best part, if the Squeels match - it pushes them farther into cap hell. I love the idea of tendering to Wallace.

[Scottishbengal]

I'd also like to see a play by Cincy to land Wallace. We could give up a first round pick but hey, we still have another first round pick.

Take a WR with one of our 1st Rnd picks and would you get a player that would contribute as much, and as quickly, as Wallace would??? I have my doubts.

[BengalByTheBay]

Take a WR with one of our 1st Rnd picks and would you get a player that would contribute as much, and as quickly, as Wallace would??? I have my doubts.

Indeed, I can't imagine anyone could make any reasonable argument that Wallace would be less productive than any WR in this draft (at least that could be had in the 20's). Moreover, there's no "bust" risk. He's a proven commodity that would drastically help our run game and our sophomore QB. I'm surprised at the lack of noise surrounding him, although PFT did suggest today that Denver might make a play for him now that Manning is done.

[ArmyBengal]

I could see Denver getting in the mix with Wallace as well as the 49er's. The Patriots were my early favorite, but signed a bunch of guys that Brady will have enough success with when coupled with Gronkowski. I think it would all depend on what the Bengals do in FA and how much they view the difference between a first and second round OG and CB.

Meaning, if they grab Bush in FA, there wouldn't be the absolute need to draft a RB within the first 3 picks. Also, if they feel they could get either an equal or only a slight drop off in player at either the OG or CB position in the second round, it would make the move more feasible.

Something like:

1a: CB Dre Kirkpatrick

1b: WR Mike Wallace

2: OG Kelechi Osemele

[Stripes]

I don't want Mike Wallace at all. I'd need more than just him to hand the Steelers a first round pick.

[TJJackson]

I don't want a "go long" wide receiver, I want one who specializes in the short to intermediate catches

and I dont want to give the Steelers a 1

so no

[BengalByTheBay]

Agree to disagree I suppose. However, to assume he's a "go long" receiver is inaccurate. Sure, parting with a mid-round pick requires consideration, but again who are you going to get at that point that has already established he can be a 1200 yard 8+ TD receiver in the NFL? If you say "no WR" at all in the first that's legitimate, but then it remains a need based on what we currently have at the other wide. I, for one, am not banking on big dividends from Binns or anybody else I haven't seen take a real snap. It's a lot like RB was as far as I'm concerned. They needed somebody and got somebody so I'm cool with it. I think they need somebody at WR and IMHO Wallace would instantly blow the top off our WR corps. So, yeah, I'd be good with it.

[derekshank]

Saw the Bengals had a look at Mohamed Sanu today.

I like Sanu just fine... but does anyone actually think that Wallace wouldn't be a better use for the #21 pick?

[ArmyBengal]

The draft is hit or miss and is all about hoping the guy you get turns into something special.

What if you could erase the doubt ??

What if you knew that pick would instantly turn into a pro bowl caliber player, making your team better ??

Would you do it ??

Well, that's what Wallace represents at a position of need nonetheless.

Who gives a sh*t what the Steelers do with the pick ??

That's their issue, but I bet he won't be an instant pro bowl caliber player.

Yeah, i'm still good with it.

[Kazkal]

Can you sign wallace after the draft for a next years first?

[HoosierCat]

Well, the twitter-fed rumor of the evening is that the Bengals, Broncos and Patriots are all chasing Wallace.

[UK Bengal]

Out of those 3 he will go to the broncos or pats we won't get a look in if it's true of course

[ArmyBengal]

Agree. If the Pats and Broncos are in the mix (assuming the rumor is true) we won't get him.

He has no ill will towards the Steelers and wouldn't feel the need to face the Steelers twice a season.

I also think if he had the choice of Manning, Brady or Dalton to throw to him, it wouldn't be the latter.

What a huge turn of events that would be !!!

Side note:

I hope i'm wrong, but that might be the only time you see Dalton in the same sentence as those two.

[derekshank]

According to Matt Barrows (49ers beat writer) SF inquired about Wallace... but he wants a contract that exceeds Larry Fitzgerald's 8-year $120 million contract.

I'd be happy to see Mike Brown pay the man like a true #1... but that's a ridiculous price tag. Not to mention the 1st round pick they'd be giving away. If this is true, it's probably why the Steelers didn't franchise him. They knew they wouldn't reach a long term deal with him - so either lock him down for cheaper, or else get a first round pick.

While I'm among the biggest supporters of poaching Mike Wallace from the Steelers... if that's the asking price - I'm out.

[Sea Ray]

Agree to disagree I suppose. However, to assume he's a "go long" receiver is inaccurate. Sure, parting with a mid-round pick requires consideration, but again who are you going to get at that point that has already established he can be a 1200 yard 8+ TD receiver in the NFL? If you say "no WR" at all in the first that's legitimate, but then it remains a need based on what we currently have at the other wide. I, for one, am not banking on big dividends from Binns or anybody else I haven't seen take a real snap. It's a lot like RB was as far as I'm concerned. They needed somebody and got somebody so I'm cool with it. I think they need somebody at WR and IMHO Wallace would instantly blow the top off our WR corps. So, yeah, I'd be good with it.

Good NFL teams do not put these sorts of resources into WRs. He's a hood ornament when we have many other needs. If we get Wallace it'll cost big bucks and another 1st rd pick. There's only so many 1st rd picks and there's only so much salary cap space to go around. You can't lock up all those resources in two WRs. We already have one 1st rd pick and he's being paid well and it will get more lucrative in the future. The Mike Wallace to the Bengals talk is crazy.

[ArmyBengal]

8 year, 120 million ??

Get the f*ck outta here.

Yeah, can't do that...

[cincyhokie]

The fact that this came out of his mouth is a huge red flag for any team. Pass.