The Seattle Seahawks insisted they weren’t going to trade Russell Wilson … until they did. The Seahawks are now saying similar things about star wide receiver DK Metcalf. Could Metcalf be traded next?

While Seattle is publicly saying he’s not on the trade block and has reportedly signaled to him he won’t be traded, Metcalf’s name is “buzzing in league circles,” according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Here’s how Fowler described the situation on Sunday’s SportsCenter, via Bleacher Report:

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“This is a name that’s buzzing in league circles. No guarantee that anything happens here,” Fowler said. “I’m told that Metcalf has gotten indications, informally from the team, that he’s not going to be traded. Seattle has said publicly they have no intention to trade him. But the execs I talk to keep bringing him up that maybe they would either be willing to move on at the right price or that Metcalf would welcome a change. So, something is going on here; it’s just hard to figure out what. But he’s got one year left on his rookie deal. He would need a new contract as part of a trade. That’s the tricky part.”

As noted, the Seahawks star has just one season left on his rookie deal and is looking for a new contract. Metcalf is coming off another terrific season, appearing in all 17 games and catching 75 passes for 967 yards and a career-high 12 touchdowns in 2021. The 24-year-old hasn’t missed a game so far in his three-year career.

While Metcalf has been terrific in Seattle, the Seahawks could look to trade him as they continue a rebuild. There have already been a number of blockbuster trades around the NFL this offseason, including multiple involving star wide receivers (Davante Adams and Tyreek Hill), so why not another one? There are surely teams that would be willing to pay up to acquire Metcalf, so we’ll see if Seattle pulls the trigger.