Mike Wallace is aware that his future with the Miami Dolphins is on thin ice. The team has made it very clear that they are doing a lot of evaluating this offseason and the wide receiver position will have to take priority simply because of the amount of cap space committed to it. Wallace is set to be one of the bigger hits in 2015 and as a contract extension looms for Ryan Tannehill, he could be on the chopping block. After weeks of silence, the two sides are meeting to discuss the future.
According to the Miami Herald, Wallace and Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey met of the weekend to discuss the best move to make regarding the receiver and his spot on the team. Wallace has had a steep fall from grace with Miami over the past two seasons. The team signed the wide receiver to a five-year, $60 million deal in hopes that he would be the big playmaker Tannehill needed. He did have 10 touchdowns this season, but failed to get over the 1,000-yard hump during his tenure with the team. Pair that with the criticism he has voiced regarding the offensive game plan and the self-imposed benching he put on himself in Week 17 and Wallace should be worried about his future.
The receiver is due $9.85 million this season and is a huge target to be released considering the amount of money the Dolphins would save as a result. Other receivers like Brandon Gibson and team-favorite Brian Hartline are also big hits to the salary cap, but could return in 2015 should Wallace be released.
If released, the market will be big for Wallace. Several teams need a playmaker and will likely believe that a change in scenery is all he needs to excel. The Cleveland Browns must replace Josh Gordon. The New England Patriots are in the market for a big threat. The Arizona Cardinals could be saying goodbye to Larry Fitzgerald and need help. The New York Jets could release Percy Harvin and target Wallace. Even the Seattle Seahawks could use a big playmaker at the wide receiver spot.
The Dolphins have a lot of decisions to make this offseason. It starts with the commitment to Tannehill and will then trickle down to the running back spot with Knowshon Moreno and the wide receiver position with Wallace.