Davante Adams seems closer and closer to a move out of Las Vegas. Trade rumors swirl around the Raiders wideout, whose relationship with head coach Antonio Pierce appears to have soured in recent weeks.
Adams hasn’t shied away from the whispers. In fact, he’s embracing them. The All-Pro-caliber pass-catcher looked to be using his Instagram as a sort of lighthouse to draw interest from one of the AFC’s most prominent franchises Friday afternoon.
Adams, ever the American literature nut, shocked onlookers when he allowed Edgar Allan Poe — one of the 19th-century’s most influential poets — to grace his Instagram story.
Here’s what you need to know.
SN’s NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Davante Adams’ Edgar Allen Poe post, explained
Adams made reference to Poe in a fairly direct manner Friday on Instagram, posting a portrait shot of the famed poet on his story.
Oh nothing, just Davante Adams posting a pic of Edgar Allen Poe… pic.twitter.com/7Usp4HbHfl
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) October 4, 2024
The image set off a firestorm of confusion amongst NFL fans. Social media was a frenzy, with some believing a deal between Baltimore and Las Vegas for the want-away wideout was imminent.
Others, meanwhile, suggested Adams was standing on the shoulders of past wide receivers who had drawn attention for their curious approach to forcing a move away. After all, there’s a reason this tweet exists:
Typical QB tweet: love my teammates god is good!
RB tweet: keep grindin
TE tweet: derp
WR tweet: the enemy speaks kindly & holds a knife
— Denny Carter (@CDCarter13) August 10, 2017
No matter which way you slice it, Adams’ post was curious. He added to the murkiness 20 minutes later, returning to his Instagram story to serve up some more Poe-inspired madness with this quote from the author:
Believe nothing you hear and half of what you see.
Adams’ latest post seems a reflection of the changing nature of his relationship with Las Vegas. He appears to be on the outs with the organization, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that Adams is seeking new pastures before this year’s trade deadline.
Baltimore, a team with roots to Poe in its name and its location, would certainly represent an enticing option for both player and team. For Adams, he would be thrust onto a team that fancies itself Super Bowl contenders. He’d also get a chance to field passes from a multiple-time MVP in Lamar Jackson. The last time he did that, good things happened.
The Ravens, meanwhile, are still seeking a true No. 1 receiver. Zay Flowers has shown real signs of progress in his first two seasons, while Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor can impress on their day. But Adams is still one of the league’s best players, a route-running and pass-catching maven the likes of which isn’t too common, even in the pass-friendly confines of today’s NFL.
Multiple teams are expected to be in for Adams as the season limps towards its midway point — and with it, the trade deadline. Baltimore very well could be one of them. If Friday’s post is anything to go by, that proposition might be of Adams’ liking, too.
Where is Edgar Allen Poe from?
Poe lived in a number of places over the course of his life. But his most well-known residence was located in Baltimore.
Poe and his works are foundational to Charm City’s literary history, a soundtrack to the bustling city that he called home. He’s been immortalized throughout the area with a series of tributes. H.P. Lovecraft identified Poe as a seminal figure in helping Lovecraft cultivate the horrorcore style of writing he would become known for, while Alfred Hitchcock credited Poe with inspiring his suspense films.
His work might be nearly 200 years old, but it transcends space and time, playing a pivotal part in shaping the world we live in today. Nothing exemplifies this more than the fact that the Ravens are named after Poe’s most famous poem, aptly called “The Raven.” The team’s mascot, a comically-designed raven, is aptly named Poe.
To many, Poe is a reflection of Baltimore in all its glory. He stands alongside Cal Ripken Jr., crab cakes, and Maryland’s state bird (the oriole) as a substantial figure in the lore that swirls around Charm City.