The Seattle Seahawks got their mandatory mini camp underway on Tuesday, but there was a notable absence from the team's offensive stars. Wide receiver DK Metcalf wasn't in attendance for the mandatory workout while he continues to rehab an injury back in Los Angeles, per Ian Rapoport. With Metcalf and the Seahawks still embroiled in contract negotiations, his absence from camp could ignite a new wave of trade rumors. 

Metcalf was among a handful of wide receivers who had been linked with a possible offseason trade. With a new contract on the horizon, the Seahawks may not be as committed to paying the star wideout as they were before dealing Russell Wilson to the Broncos.

With the championship window closed in Seattle, the Seahawks could well balk at signing Metcalf to a big extension that would make him among the highest-paid receivers in football. Alternatively, Metcalf may not be so keen to re-up in Seattle if he doesn't feel the team can contend for a Super Bowl, or even a playoff berth, throughout the length of his next deal.

Many teams would be eager to strike a trade to bring Metcalf to town, and while his absence from camp is due to his ongoing rehab from offseason surgery, it could foreshadow a potential exit from the Seahawks later down the line. The 25-year-old underwent surgery back in February to remove a screw from a previous procedure.

Last season, Metcalf caught 75 passes for 967 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was targeted 129 times, featuring in all 17 games for the Seahawks, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2017.