Washington WATCH: What's Seahawks QB Russell Wilson Saying About Commanders Trade?

"Listen now, I love the East Coast,'' Wilson says, "but I think the West Coast is better for me right now. I've got my whole family over here."

After all these years, Russell Wilson knows how to play "the diplomat.''

"I'm from Richmond, I know what you mean," he said this week in a visit on the "Today Show." "I've got people hitting me up every day, all my friends and all that from the East Coast. 

Russell Wilson asked by @craigmelvin about coming to Washington: “I’m from Richmond, I know what you mean, I got people hitting me up every day, all my friends and all that from the East Coast but Seattle’s the place I’m at right now and I love it.” Video from @TODAYshow pic.twitter.com/VmqQdXbHfI

— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) March 1, 2022

"But Seattle's the place that I'm at right now and I love it, and it's great, man."

And it appears the feeling is mutual with the Seahawks, who are happy with Wilson quarterbacking the team for his 11th season this fall.

Pete Carroll says the Seahawks have heard from teams interested in acquiring Russ but Seattle has no intention of trading him.

— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) March 2, 2022

Does that crush the idea of Wilson "coming home'' to play for the Washington Commanders via a blockbuster trade? That is how many interpret his remarks.

But ...

Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson

Wilson has been saying that sort of thing in public for two offseasons now, keeping the waters calm ... despite the bubbles that keep forming beneath the surface.

The leaks about Wilson's dissatisfaction with the Seahawks - the only team the Virginia native and perennial Pro Bowler has ever played for - didn't come from the Seahawks, right?

Indeed, reports out of Seattle have it that they would indeed listen to trade proposals, but that a cost of three first-round picks would have to be attached.

Maybe the reason there won't be movement of Wilson - who also recently altered his social media identity to scrub his Seahawks photo from his page - is because of that high price.

Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images

Russell Wilson

Jon Allen, Russell Wilson

Taylor Heinicke, Russell Wilson

Or maybe it's because Russell Wilson knows how to "play nice'' with the public.

Coach Ron Rivera has repeatedly and openly stated Washington's desire for a major upgrade at QB. Names like Aaron Rodgers and Deshaun Watson and Wilson - pricy and unlikely as some may think them to be - have a place in this discussion. ... even as Wilson, 33, suggests they don't.

"Listen now, I love the East Coast,'' he said, "but I think the West Coast is better for me right now. I've got my whole family over here."

Maybe that's the end of it. Or maybe Russell Wilson is simply "the diplomat.''