NFL Rumors 2012: Teams That Need to Go After Pittsburgh Steelers' Mike Wallace

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the Steelers plan to tender restricted free agent Mike Wallace at the first-round level, instead of using their franchise tag on him.  It's not that the Steelers don't want to franchise Wallace, it's that they don't have nearly enough cap space to do so.

A first-round tender means that if another team offers Mike Wallace more money than the Steelers want to, or can offer him in return, than the Steelers get that team's first-round draft pick in return.

That means that any team with enough cap-space and a first-round draft pick could go after Mike Wallace and make him their franchise receiver heading into the 2012 NFL season.

While teams with the first 15 or 20 picks in the first-round of the 2012 NFL Draft aren't likely to go after Wallace, as their picks hold more value than he's worth, there are undoubtedly teams in the later part of the first-round that will be interested in him.

Ahead are teams that need to use their cap space and their first-round pick on Steelers' wide receiver, Mike Wallace. 

New England Patriots

The New England Patriots are in a perfect spot to make a serious offer to pull Mike Wallace away from their AFC rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Not only do the Patriots have a lot of cap space, they also have the No. 27 and No. 31 overall draft picks in the 2012 NFL Draft, which wouldn't be too difficult to part ways with, especially getting a guy like Mike Wallace in return.

The Patriots arguably don't need more production in their passing game, as it ranked second overall last year with an average of 317.8 yards per game, but the opportunity of having Rob Gronkowski, Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez and Mike Wallace on the same team is too enticing to pass up.

The highest amount the Steelers can offer Wallace, based on their salary cap issues, is close to $2.75 million dollars for this year.  While I'm sure Wallace loves being a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, he undoubtedly deserves more money than that and the Patriots have the money throw at him.

If the Steelers got the Patriots No. 27 or No. 31 pick in this year's draft, they could use it to try and replace Mike Wallace with a guy like Georgia Tech' Stephen Hill or LSU's Reuben Randle. While those players aren't on the same level as Mike Wallace, at least the Steelers would be able to move forward with some explosive talent at the wide receiver position.

With two first-round picks in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Patriots would be absolutely foolish to not at least make an attempt at signing Mike Wallace. 

Chicago Bears

If there's one gaping hole the Bears will be trying to fill in the 2012 NFL Draft, it is the one that exists on their depth chart at the wide receiver position.

The Bears had the 26th ranked passing attack in the NFL this past season, with an average of 188.2 yards per game and, while that production was somewhat due to the offensive line failing to protect Jay Cutler, the wide receivers also didn't help.

It's inevitable that the Bears will be looking to use their No. 19 overall draft pick on a wide receiver like Baylor's Kendall Wright or Georgia Tech speedster Stephen Hill, but they would be better off sending that pick to the Steelers and using their free cap space to get Mike Wallace.

The last thing the Bears need is another player who's a raw talent at the wide receiver position, and that's what they would get in the draft.  The Bears could instead get a solidified Pro-Bowl receiver in Mike Wallace that would make them a dangerous team heading into the 2012 NFL season.

With the Bears No. 19 overall pick, the Steelers could either go after a receiver like Michael Floyd, who wowed prospects at the NFL combine, or try to solidify their offense line with a guy like Cordy Glenn.

The Bears should be legitimate interested in Mike Wallace as they have the cap space to do so and going with Mike Wallace over a first-round talent in this year's draft is a safer bet to make. 

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers had the 29th ranked passing offense in the NFL this past season with a measly average of only 183.2 yards per game.

One of the main reasons why the 49ers passing offense was so bad was because, aside from Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis, the 49ers had no legitimate talent at the receiver position.  If the 49ers want to be legitimate contenders again next year in the NFC, they certainly have to add depth to their depth chart at the wide receiver position.  Adding Mike Wallace is a perfect way to do just that.

San Francisco has a large amount of cap space available and they also have the No. 30 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, which wouldn't be too high of a cost for a talent like Mike Wallace.

Adding Wallace to the 49ers passing attack would not only help Alex Smith out, it would also help Michael Crabtree be more of the possession receiver that he is, instead of trying to be the downfield threat that Wallace could bring to the table.

With the 49ers No.30 overall pick, the Steelers could use their own No. 24 pick on a wide-out like Georgia Tech' Stephen Hill, or they could feasibly package their two-picks in hopes of moving up in the draft to steal a guy like Michael Floyd, who looked like an NFL ready receiver at the NFL combine.

The 49ers would be foolish to not make a run at Mike Wallace, because he's exactly what they need to solidify themselves as a legitimate powerhouse in the NFL.

St. Louis Rams

Disclaimer:  This hinges on the St. Louis Rams trading their No. 2 overall pick to the Cleveland Browns for their No. 4 and No. 24 overall pick, in addition to a lot of other things the Browns will have to give up for that pick.

With that being said, if the Rams move their No. 2 overall pick to the Browns and receive their No. 4 and No. 24 overall picks in return, the Rams would be foolish not to use their cap space and No. 24 pick on Mike Wallace.

One of the Ram's biggest needs is at the wide receiver position, as evidenced by their atrocious passing offense last year which ranked 30th in the NFL with an average of only 179.4 yards per game.

Adding Mike Wallace would be a major upgrade for the St. Louis Rams at the wide receiver position and it would undoubtedly give Sam Bradford the downfield threat that he's been desperately needing over the past two years.

With the Rams' No. 24 pick, the Steelers could realistically go after Baylor's Kendall Wright, who would give them a similar style receiver to Mike Wallace, albeit a smaller one, that could help the Steelers still have a legitimate downfield threat in the 2012 NFL season.

This move would be a wise move to make for the St. Louis Rams if they plan on returning to their glory days of being "the greatest show on turf."  

Baltimore Ravens

Disclaimer:  This will only happen if Mike Wallace is interested in being the most hated man in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Baltimore Ravens were undoubtedly held back last year by their 19th ranked passing attack, which averaged 213.9 yards per game.  While they have talent like Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, there's no doubt that adding Mike Wallace to their roster would add a level of depth that they've lacked in the past.

Adding Mike Wallace would give the Ravens two legitimate downfield threats and it would allow Anquan Boldin to be the true possession receiver that he is.

Giving up their No. 29 pick in this year's NFL draft wouldn't be all that hard to do, although there are other holes that the Ravens need to fill, specifically on the defensive side of the ball, with their franchise talent nearing the age of retirement.

While the Ravens pursuing Mike Wallace is the least likely on this list to actually happen, it's an interesting thought none the less.

The Ravens would be wise to get a receiver as talented as Mike Wallace is, as they have the cap space and draft pick needed to do so, but the heated rivalry between the Steelers and Ravens would most likely keep Wallace from switching allegiances

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