After two somewhat disappointing seasons with the Miami Dolphins, wide receiver Mike Wallace's future with the team is up in the air. Wallace, who posted back-to-back seasons with at least 1,100 receiving yards in 2010 and 2011, signed a five-year deal worth $60 million in 2013. Unfortunately, Wallace hasn't produced like the top-five wide receiver he is paid to be.
In 32 games, Wallace has caught 140 balls for 1,792 yards and 15 touchdowns. Those aren't bad numbers by any stretch, but they haven't helped push the Dolphins to the playoffs either. Adding to the trouble is Wallace's notorious mercurial nature.
Miami can save $2.5 million if they cut him before June and $6.9 million after the first of that month. However, recent reports suggest that the Fins are hoping peace-making meetings with Wallace's camp go swimmingly.
"Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey recently had a meal with Mike Wallace, according to a source with direct knowledge, and the Dolphins continue to mull what to do with their star receiver," Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald wrote.
"The face Hickey wanted to meet with Wallace suggests the Dolphins are open-minded about his situation and aren't going to automatically cut him without first exploring if the situation is [salvageable]."
Trading the speedy pass-catcher would also accomplish the same salary cap savings as cutting him. ESPN's Andrew Healy believes the Seattle Seahawks are a potential landing spot, though it seems unlikely that Pete Carroll would want to deal with another headache at wide receiver after shipping Percy Harvin out of town earlier this season.
"Rather than continuing to pay eight digits for a wide receiver who ranked 75th and then 19th in DVOA the last two years, Miami should look to unload Wallace for a Day 3 draft pick," Healy wrote. "Trading Wallace would give Miami $5.5 million in badly-needed cap relief for 2015 and get him off the books by 2016. And Miami has a logical suitor in Seattle. Russell Wilson throws a great deep ball and must be dying to have a legitimate deep threat. Not to mention that Mike Wallace would team with Chris Matthews to make the NFL's greatest ever news team at wide receiver."
