The Pittsburgh Steelers have tendered offers to six players, including wide receiver Mike Wallace, cornerback Keenan Lewis, safety Ryan Mundy, tight end David Johnson, offensive guard Doug Legursky and offensive guard Ramon Foster, the team announced today.
By tendering the offers to the six players, the Steelers reserve the right to retain the players by matching any offer sheets they would sign with another team. All six players could also remain with the Steelers by signing their tender offer for 2012 or by signing a long-term contract with the team.
Wide receiver Mike Wallace, as expected, has received a first rounder tender of $2.742 million, the highest tenders teams can use to protect restricted free agents.
Free agency begins at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Wallace will be free to negotiate with other teams. Wallace’s agent Bus Cook is seeking top-5 receiver money for Wallace but there will be a limited market due to any team signing Wallace having to surrender a first round pick.
NFL sources believe the New England Patriots are the only team considering the possibility of making a big offer to Wallace.
CB Keenan Lewis received a low round tender of $1.26 million as did David Johnson and Ryan Mundy.
There had been talk of left guard Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster being under consideration for a second round tender of $1.927 million, but we can confirm that wasn’t the case for Legursky.
Agent David Rich told Inside Pittsburgh Sports.com that Legursky received a low tender (right of refusal) of $1.26 million. Due to Legursky being undrafted, the Steelers will receive no draft pick if Legursky signs elsewhere.
If Ramon Foster, the team’s best guard, also received a low tender (checking to confirm), he would also net no draft pick in return due to being undrafted.