NFL Free Agency: Potential Destinations for Mike Wallace

As reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Pittsburgh Steelers will not be placing the franchise tag on up-and-coming star receiver Mike Wallace. This means that the restricted free agent can sign an offer sheet with another team and the Steelers would have the opportunity to match the offer or get a first-round selection in return.

The highest qualifying offer for Wallace is approximately $2.75 million. In order to tag the receiver, it'd cost the Steelers roughly $9.5 million. It appears as though the Steelers may not have the capabilities to re-sign the receiver, but the front office has stated that they are determined to keep Wallace in black and gold.

This comes just days after the team announced that they would not retain Hines Ward, their third-round selection in the 1998 NFL draft. Over the course of the season, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger grew accustomed to throwing to Wallace and Antonio Brown. This made Ward expendable, and the Steelers can ill-afford to let Wallace walk as well.

Last season, Wallace played in all 16 games for the team, accumulating a career-high 72 receptions for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns.

Out of Ole Miss, Wallace was selected with the 84th-overall selection in the 2009 NFL draft. Since his arrival, he has gotten better and better, and it appears that he is on his way to becoming one of the league's best receivers.

In this slideshow, I will feature 10 teams that could use Wallace's services and that actually have a legitimate shot at landing the Pro Bowler.

San Diego Chargers

It remains unclear at this point if the Chargers will be able to re-sign Vincent Jackson, their star receiver for the past few seasons.

Because of his actions and injuries, the Chargers have not wanted to give Jackson a long-term deal. And unfortunately, that's what he wants. If the Chargers can't give it to him, it looks as though he'd prefer to leave San Diego for good.

If that were the case, the Chargers would immediately be in dire need of a No. 1 receiver. Malcom Floyd, Vincent Brown and Patrick Crayton would become the main receivers on the roster, and needless to say, that's just not going to cut it for quarterback Philip Rivers.

If the team has any hope of making it back to the playoffs, they need that marquee guy to alleviate pressure off Antonio Gates, one of the best tight ends in the league's history.

A.J. Smith and Co. would be fools not to go after Wallace, who has had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons for the Steelers. The receiver gives them that amazing outside burst down-field, and a Rivers-Wallace combination would be one of the potent in the entire league.

If Jackson walks, the Chargers need to acquire Wallace.

New Orleans' Marques Colston, Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne, Philadelphia's DeSean Jackson and Kansas City's Dwayne Bowe seem like other solid options, but Wallace is undoubtedly the best of the bunch.

New York Giants

(Of course, this scenario only works if Mario Manningham leaves the defending Super Bowl Champions.)

But can you imagine? A roster featuring Wallace, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz? That sounds like one of the best in the league without a doubt.

As stated above, the Giants receiver Manningham reported that there was a 75 percent chance that he would leave the Giants. A few days later, he bucked the reports and said there was now a 50-50 chance that he'd be packing his bags.

If that were the case, the Giants would immediately need to fill a void at receiver. They may not need someone of Wallace's stature, but it'd still be an amazing fit.

The Giants would be dumb to not go after Wallace. The receiver gives them an outstanding vertical threat, especially when the team already has the big, physical Hakeem Nicks and the sneaky little guy, Victor Cruz.

If that scenario were to play out, I'd immediately consider the Giants to be contenders yet again in the NFC, as they'd look to win their third Super Bowl ring in five years. I wouldn't be surprised if the younger Manning went out and pulled a Rodgers, surpassing the 5,000-yard plateau when the season concludes.

The Giants may not be in dire need of a receiver like Wallace, but like I said, it'd be an amazing fit.

Indianapolis Colts

Ah, from one Manning team to the other.

The Colts, who have been a staple at the top of the AFC for the last decade, are now in a re-building phase, as they hold the No. 1 selection in April's draft. They will likely use it on Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, and there is a distinct possibility that they let Peyton Manning and his humongous salary walk on March 8.

Letting the $28 million go, the Colts would free up a lot of space to sign other players. That's where Wallace comes in.

The Colts are already expected to let Reggie Wayne go elsewhere, and Pierre Garcon has already rejected an offer by the franchise. Former first-round pick Anthony Gonzalez is also a free agent, and the Colts are likely to not re-sign him.

That leaves the team with Austin Collie and Blair White as the team's main options, and that's simply just not going to do, even with a rookie quarterback taking all the snaps. If they want Luck to succeed, owner Jim Irsay will have to give him solid weapons. That's just the way it works.

A Luck-to-Wallace combination would immediately become potent, as Luck looks to live up to the "next Peyton Manning" expectations. If the Colts have the opportunity to sign Wallace, they need to take the chance.

The receiver is one of the best up-and-comers in the NFL, and if the Colts feel like they have a solid chance at acquiring the receiver, they need to take it. The opportunity is just too good to pass up.

Philadelphia Eagles

Don't rule out the "Super Team" either.

Even though the franchise has stated that they will do anything in their power to re-sign DeSean Jackson, what if they don't? What if Jackson unexpectedly accepts a mega-deal elsewhere and the Eagles are left with nothing?

If that scenario does happen, the Eagles front office wouldn't be too happy. Fortunately for them, the Eagles would be given the opportunity to acquire Wallace.

An acquisition of Wallace would be a solid move on the Eagles' part and would give an even better meaning to the term "Super Team."

Teaming up with Jeremy Maclin would give the Eagles an exciting combination, especially with quarterback Michael Vick roaming the backfield. Not to mention, there's also LeSean McCoy, the team's Pro Bowl running back, who has become a fierce option on offense. Needless to say, the Eagles offense would be stacked.

They could very well falter like they did last season, but regardless, their offense is still amazing, on paper. However, "on paper" doesn't translate into wins, and the Eagles should know that by now.

Back to the subject. I'm sure the Eagles would love to have Wallace on the roster. And I'm sure Wallace would love to be on the Eagles, as they have a fairly good team. The pieces of the puzzle just need to fall the right way for them. If this scenario were to play out, I'd immediately consider the team contenders in the NFC East and in the entire conference as well.

Washington Redskins

Simply put, this wouldn't be a list if I didn't feature the Washington Redskins. The 'Skins have been a laughingstock lately, specifically known as the team that throws away millions and millions of dollars every year, but never make it to the playoffs.

Think about it: Albert Haynesworth's $100 million mega-deal. Adam Archuleta's seven-year, $35 million contract. An old Jeff George for $18 million. A seven-year, $56 million deal to a 32-year old Deion Sanders. Jeremiah Trotter's seven-year, $35 million deal. Yeah, I'm just going to stop there.

Needless to say, the Redskins have made some dumb decisions in the past.

But if they were somehow able to land Wallace, it wouldn't be considered to be a dumb signing.

Frankly, the 'Skins need Wallace.

Currently, the team lists an aging, injury-prone Santana Moss on the roster, along with Jabar Gaffney, Leonard Hankerson, Anthony Armstrong and Brandon Banks, among others. There is also Donte Stallworth and David Anderson, both of whom are becoming free agents this offseason.

Clearly, the 'Skins need help at receiver. And Mike Wallace is the answer.

There is a great chance that the team will take a chance on a quarterback through the draft, as Rex Grossman and John Beck showed that they are not solutions. It's grown more clear throughout the last few weeks that there will be a young quarterback taking the snaps on opening day, but we don't know who that's going to be.

Whoever it is, though, is going to need a marquee receiver to throw to. And the Redskins would be smart to acquire Wallace.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Some of y'all are probably laughing at this right now. But it's the truth. The Jaguars need a receiver like I need money—in other words, pretty bad.

The Jags currently have the single worst receiving corps in the NFL. There's just no doubt about it. Mike Thomas, who would be a No. 3 receiver on a number of teams, is their main option. Chastin West, Taylor Price, Cecil Shorts III, Jarrett Dillard, Kassim Osgood and Brian Robiskie are their other receivers.

Yeah, that's just not going to cut it. It also doesn't help that the Jaguars are currently molding their "quarterback of the future," Blaine Gabbert. A young, developmental signal-caller and a lacksadaisical receiving corps is not going to win the team many games. Thankfully, they have Maurice Jones-Drew, but just one player is not going to take a team to the postseason.

Anyway, this scenario is perhaps the most unlikely. I highly doubt that a player of Wallace's caliber would want to go to a bottom-feeder such as Jacksonville.

But I could be wrong. You never know.

One thing I do know, though, is that the Jaguars haven't had a solid receiver since Jimmy Smith roamed the sidelines. The Jaguars currently hold the No. 7 selection in April's draft, and it seems certain that they will take a chance on South Carolina's Alshon Jeffery, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd or Baylor's Kendall Wright. There is no doubt that they'd take Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon if available, but he is expected to be long gone by that point.

The Jaguars need Wallace, but I don't think this is going to happen. But like I said, you never know.

New York Jets

Go figure, huh? Of course I was going to put Rexy and the Jets on here.

As much as I don't respect the Jets, they are still a pretty good team. However, egos and bad attitudes get in the way of that, and that's what hurts them. I'm not calling Mike Wallace an angel or anything, but he'd be a much better fit in New York than Santonio Holmes. I'll say that much.

The team thought they were getting their franchise receiver a few offseasons ago when they acquired Holmes. But it just hasn't worked out.

Since arriving in New York prior to the 2010 season, Holmes has started 26 games, registering a total of 103 receptions for 1,400 yards and 14 touchdowns. The numbers may be alright, but the Jets have probably expected more at this point.

Holmes practically divided up the entire locker room at the end of last season, and personally, if I were part of the team's front office, I'd tell him my goodbyes. His attitude and demeanor is not worth what he's getting paid. Holmes is just not worth the risk.

Additionally, the Jets took a chance on Plaxico Burress prior to the start of last season.  Y'all remember Burress, right? You know, the player that shot himself and spent over two years in jail? Yeah, that guy.

Burress was a pleasant surprise last season, but he faded down the stretch. He was arguably one of the best red-zone targets in all of football, but he seemingly disappeared as the weeks winded down. Burress is currently a free agent, and there seems to be a 99 percent chance he won't return to the Jets.

Other than Holmes, the Jets really have no options. Jeremy Kerley, Patrick Turner and Logan Payne are the other receivers, so yeah, that's not going to cut it if they want Mark Sanchez to develop into the quarterback the franchise had been hoping for.

The Jets need Wallace. Actually, scratch that. Sanchez needs Wallace.

New Orleans Saints

Unfathomable. That's the word that comes to mind when I imagine Wallace in a Saints uniform. It seems as though the Saints' high-octane offense would be unstoppable if Wallace made his way to Louisiana.

Of course, for this scenario to play out, the Saints would have to let Marques Colston walk in free agency. Reports have surfaced lately that the team may not retain the receiver, and it has grown more likely by the weeks.

Anyway, adding Wallace to an offense such as the Saints would be stupifying. Drew Brees is one of the best quarterbacks in the game, and with head coach Sean Payton's system, the Saints seem unstoppable nine times out of 10.

The team really has no clear-cut No. 1 receiver, as they all seem to carry the load.

Lance Moore, Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem have all embraced their respective roles, and they've done a pretty good job at doing so. With such a complex system, it may seem as though Wallace doesn't fit into their plans.

If Wallace-to-New Orleans were to actually happen, the receiver would become a No. 1 wideout on a team that does not have a main option. That's puzzling, but there is no doubt in my mind that he would still flourish in the Saints' system, especially with Drew Brees at the helm.

Oakland Raiders

I had to put them on this list.

With Al Davis' passing, it really doesn't make that much sense, but it could still happen. When Davis was still alive and kicking, he thoroughly enjoyed acquiring speedsters, as we all know.

You know, take a look at their roster: Jacoby Ford, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore and so on. That's just the receivers, as there are players like DeMarcus Van Dyke on the roster as well.

The point I'm trying to make is that the Raiders apparently love having fast players on their roster. And as we all know, Mike Wallace is a pretty fast receiver, perhaps the best vertical wideout in the game.

After acquiring Carson Palmer in the middle of the season, the Raiders have seemingly gotten their franchise quarterback. With Darren McFadden on the roster too, the team just needs to put other solid players around them if they want to return to the postseason.

Their receiving corps is rather average, as there really is no main guy. The corps is also one of the youngest in the league, outside of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Players such as the aforementioned Ford, Heyward-Bey and Moore are on the roster, along with Louis Murphy and the oft-injured Chaz Schilens.

As you can clearly see, the Raiders need a receiver. Someone like Wallace would give them an amazing vertical threat, along with a potent weapon for Carson Palmer.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers shocked the NFL world last season, as they almost made it to the Super Bowl, thanks to former No. 1 pick Alex Smith, tight end Vernon Davis and a stout defense.

Even though their offense was lackluster, the 49ers were still somehow to advance through the playoffs. If they were able to do that with a mediocre receiving corps, imagine what would happen if they had a player like Mike Wallace?

Since arriving in the NFL, Alex Smith has not had a true No. 1 receiver. Michael Crabtree has been an alright receiver, but he has not become the Pro Bowl-caliber player that everyone was expecting. Josh Morgan, the team's No. 2 option, is injury-prone and unreliable. Ted Ginn is, well, Ted Ginn—he'll never be a quality receiver.

The other receivers, Kyle Williams, Brett Swain, Joe Hastings and Dontavia Bogan, just aren't legitimate options.

The 49ers need that No. 1 guy, especially to alleviate pressure off Vernon Davis, who has become one of the league's premier tight ends. San Francisco would become Super Bowl contenders if they were able to acquire someone like Wallace, and that's something that would benefit the NFL, not just their team.

Of course, if the Niners struck out with Wallace, they'd be able to go after a player such as Marques Colston, Vincent Jackson, Stevie Johnson, Reggie Wayne or someone of that nature. But out of all those players, Wallace seems like the best option and the best fit for the Niners offense.

There's Always The...

Never rule out the Steelers. There is always that chance that Wallace could re-sign with the only team he's ever known.

Clearly, the Steelers want to retain Wallace. Kevin Colbert, the team's general manager, seems determined to hold on to the receiver.

"Having a great player like Mike Wallace is not a dilemma," Colbert said. "We're going to do everything we can to make sure that Mike Wallace remains a Pittsburgh Steeler and I think that's Mike's belief as well. Usually when you have two parties that share the same goal, it's easier to achieve that goal."

I believe there's about an 80 percent chance that Wallace starts the 2012 season in black and gold.

If he doesn't return to Pennsylvania, Wallace's likeliest destinations include San Diego, Washington or Philadelphia.