Ireland & Co. intend on continuing to build through the draft to surround quarterback Ryan Tannehill with the tools he needs to grow, but a pretty decent surplus of salary cap space will make way for some big-name bids on the open market.
According to Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel, Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace is atop their wish list. (photo: Doug Butchy, Flickr)
The Steelers won't be franchise-tagging the 26-year-old wideout and intend on letting him walk via free agency. As Kelly noted, Wallace won't come cheap:
"Considering Wallace turned down an offer from Pittsburgh that trumped the five-year, $55.5 million deal Vincent Jackson got from Tampa Bay as an unrestricted free agent last offseason, expect a contract being placed on a table that pays Wallace in the range of $60 million or $12 million a season during unauthorized contract negotiations at this week's NFL combine."[Related: Greg Jennings to Joe Philbin: 'Remember me?' | Sean Smith can stop worrying about franchise tag | Dolphins' 2013 Offseason Primer: Money will talk]
Wallace caught 32 touchdowns in his four-year career in Pittsburgh, and like any other big-time playmaking receiver, he puts enough of a scare into opposing secondaries to draw ample attention away from his teammates. However, Wallace obviously has a bit of a "me" attitude, and his drops are well-documented.
Keep in mind, the Dolphins parted ways with their own diva receiver Brandon Marshall, who was an absolute beast at times, last offseason. It'll be interesting to see how coach Joe Philbin, a stickler for discipline and accountability, will handle Miami's pursuit of ego-heavy free agents in his second season at the helm.
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