Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace is slated to be a restricted free agent and it's going to be tough to keep him in Pittsburgh. The Steelers are currently over the salary cap and will have to purge salary in order to sign Mike Wallace long-term. They'll also need to purge salary to even franchise tag Wallace. It's likely that the Steelers will designate the restricted free agent with a first-round tender, but the fear is a team will still be willing to part with the first-round pick to sign Wallace. Wallace doesn't seem to be opposed to playing elsewhere, either.
"Most definitely. Those are two playoff-caliber teams. Super Bowl-caliber teams," Wallace said on Sirius NFL radio about the prospect of playing for the San Francisco 49ers or New England Patriots. "I think that the right person or the right piece for those guys could put them over the top. All they need is one more piece ... most definitely, those are Super Bowl-contending teams."
Possibly realizing the potential fire he could have started with his comments, Wallace later clarified that the situation would have to be similar to what he has with the Steelers. "I wouldn't want to go anywhere and leave the situation where I am at with a great quarterback, a great organization or go somewhere where I don't feel like I could succeed."
For more on the Steelers offseason, check out this SB Nation Pittsburgh StoryStream. For more on the Steelers, check out Behind The Steel Curtain.