Mike Wallace: Why the Ravens Will Regret Not Chasing Pro Bowl WR

Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome is going to regret not going after Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, Mike Wallace.

Newsome recently said that the Steelers would not be chasing Wallace due to the fact that he would demand too much money as a restricted free agent.

Years in the future, he's going to wish he signed the Pro Bowl wide receiver when he had the chance.

Bringing Wallace to Baltimore would have given the Ravens a huge advantage over their AFC North competition long into the future. 

Here's why Ravens' brass should have gone after him.

Reason No. 1: To get him off the Steelers

Over the last three season, Wallace has a combined 1,080 yards and six touchdowns against the teams in his own division.

Last season against Baltimore, he had 12 catches for 175 yards and a touchdown in two games.

Throughout the last 10 seasons, the Ravens and the Steelers have won the AFC North all but two times.

Even if the Ravens put up a huge offer for Wallace, then the Steelers matched it and retained him due to his restricted free agent classification, they could have at least cost their biggest rival a hefty chunk of change.

Reason No. 2: Bolster the passing game

The Ravens finished the 2011 season top-10 in every major category but passing yards per game.

Their two leading receivers, Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith, only racked up 887 and 841 yards respectively. Also, remember that Smith had almost half of his total in just two games.

Lee Evans was abysmal, catching four passes in nine games. Ravens fans might remember him dropping a certain game-winning pass in a certain AFC Championship game in which a certain kicker missed a game-tying field goal.

Joe Flacco needs some help at the wide receiver position as Anquan Boldin isn't getting any younger.

Reason No. 3: Better the running game

Ray Rice is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He finished second in the league in rushing in 2011, accumulating 1,364 yards.

He could be much better with another threat downfield. Can you imagine Ray Rice being much better? He'd be scary good.

Wallace is a speed demon who posted a 4.33 40-time.

Safeties need to worry about the speed of a wide receiver more than anything else, meaning that they'll have to play farther off the ball with Wallace on the field.

If the Ravens signed Wallace, they would have a receiving corps consisting of three guys who can beat you downfield on any play.

Wallace typically gets a cornerback covering him, with safety help over the top.

Smith, if he continues on this learning curve, will command the same coverage.

Boldin is one of the finest at his position when healthy and effective.

That means there would be no safeties in the box as they would have to play the deep ball, opening up the second level for the running game tremendously.

Once Rice gets into the second level, he can break off runs at a six or seven yard clip.

Ozzie Newsome is going to regret not going after Mike Wallace when he could have.