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Las Vegas Raiders All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams shared a cryptic post on his Instagram account Friday (October 4) amid trade speculation.
Adams posted a photo of writer Edgar Allan Poe without context on his Instagram story, potentially teasing a trade to the Baltimore Ravens. Poe is not only the author of the poem, The Raven, but is also the namesake of the Ravens' mascot.
Adams then shared a Poe quote to his Instagram story, which stated, "believe nothing you hear and half of what you see."
Trade speculation centered around Adams, who missed the Raiders' Week 4 win against the Cleveland Browns due to a hamstring injury, reignited after comments made by head coach Antonio Pierce in Week 3. Pierce responded, "No, they didn't," when asked by a reporter during his postgame press conference if his team showed up following a 36-22 loss to the previously winless Carolina Panthers at home on September 22 and claimed "there were some individuals that made business decisions, so we'll make business decisions going forward as well," ESPN's Paul Gutierrez reported. The comments were made after Adams appeared to be disgusted and sat on the bench as his teammates went into the locker room down 21-7 at halftime.
On Wednesday (October 2), Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that several other potential suitors viewed Adams as "engineering" a trade to the New York Jets in order to reunite with longtime former Green Bay Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers.
"Teams involved Davante Adams’ market have become convinced the Raiders star is focused on engineering a trade to the Jets. The Bills and Steelers are among those who’ve inquired with Vegas on Adams, per sources," Breer wrote on his X account.
Breer's report came after ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Adams preferred the Jets or New Orleans Saints as potential trade destinations. Adams was teammates with Rodgers on the Packers during his first eight NFL seasons and teammates with Saints quarterback Derek Carr in college at Fresno State, as well as during his first season with the Raiders, which played a major role in the franchise acquiring him. Saints wide receiver coach Keith Williams also serves as Adams' personal wide receiver coach and has mentored him.
Breer added that the Bills were "in the same category as the Saints" in that Adams "did show some interest in going there, too," but acknowledged that "cap implications would be tough to overcome in getting a deal done."
Adams has 18 receptions for 209 yards and one touchdown through his first three games of the 2024 season.