Durkan to New Orleans mayor: 'keep your eyes off' Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan doesn’t want to hear anything about quarterback Russell Wilson leaving the Seattle Seahawks.

Durkan over the weekend told New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell to “keep your eyes off” Wilson, who’s been the subject of trade rumors in the early part of the NFL offseason.

Cantrell posted a video Saturday endorsing her city and the Saints as a new home for Wilson. It followed a report last week that the Saints were on the quarterback’s short list of potential teams, according to his agent, should a trade be considered. New Orleans could be in the market for a quarterback if Drew Brees retires, as some have speculated.

“I know, Mr. Wilson, that you will be a great addition to the New Orleans Saints,” Cantrell said in the video. “Just wanted to let you know that we not only admire you, we want you.”

Durkan’s clap back came back a few hours later -- and she referenced Seattle’s hope of getting a new NBA team. New Orleans has one in the Pelicans, who’ve ranked near the bottom of the NBA in attendance numbers in recent years.

“I love you mayor, but keep your eyes off (Wilson),” Durkan wrote. “His home is Seattle.

“And so you know, Seattle is in the market for a @NBA team. Don’t make me go there.”

A Wilson trade remains unlikely. But it’s crept into the ether of possibility the last couple weeks, no longer such a laughable notion.

Speculation around Wilson’s discontent began to balloon earlier this month with the quarterback airing his grievances about his pass protection publicly. Wilson has also gone on the record to express his desires to have more say on personnel moves.

The collapse of the Seahawks’ offense in 2020, and comments made Wilson and coach Pete Carroll since the season ended, appear to illuminate core philosophical differences between the quarterback and head coach. There are questions about the sustainability of their relationship as a result.

An NFL Network earlier this month said that three first-round pick could be the starting point for a team hoping to land Wilson, if a trade were to be considered.

Outside of the Saints, there are three other teams on Wilson’s short list, should a trade be considered, according to his agent: the Chicago Bears, Las Vegas Raiders and Dallas Cowboys.