This has been an interesting offseason for the Atlanta Falcons, who find themselves with some unfilled holes on their roster as Kirk Cousins and Kyle Pitts have trade discussions floating around them. While those situations are in the background as they get ready for September, the bigger focus for the Falcons this year will be getting second-year quarterback Michael Penix up to speed as he takes over the reins as the starting quarterback.
Whether or not Pitts is there doesn’t really matter at this point, because the Falcons have a top dog wide receiver who’s ready to have a season that should net him a lucrative contract extension with the team.
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Drake London has already cemented himself as one of the better wide receivers in the NFL, whether catching passes from Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, Kirk Cousins or Michael Penix Jr. Last season, again playing through unbelievably inconsistent quarterback play, London performed like the player he was drafted to be when he went eighth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. London set career highs in receptions (100), yards (1,271) and touchdowns (nine) and had some great efficiency numbers to go along with the standard counting stats that are mainstream among NFL coverage.
Among the 38 players with 100 targets or more last season, London ranked fifth in targets per route (0.29) while also being seventh in yards per route run (2.33), eighth in target success rate (57%) and fourth in first downs per route run (12.3%). For a bigger wide receiver (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) who played inside and out, those are great efficiency numbers through a sizable amount of volume. If Pitts is indeed playing for a new squad next year, there’s a real chance that London could end up leading the NFL in targets. For reference, London had 158 targets last season, which ranked third in the NFL.
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They’ll need him to continue to improve, because the Falcons’ passing game will be a bit thin on quality targets if Pitts is traded. Darnell Mooney had a strong first season in Atlanta, but they’re still searching for a more consistent WR3 and a vacuum of targets at tight end would leave them in a space where Charlie Woerner steps into the role of the top tight end from a receiving standpoint. London’s improvement and performance this year will go a long way in dictating the success of Penix and the Falcons’ passing game, especially since Penix has a strong arm and London is a good downfield threat and contested-catch receiver.
Atlanta quietly has a tough schedule this year after finishing in second place in the NFC South. And after trading away their 2026 first-round pick to the Rams to move up to draft pass rusher James Pearce Jr., they have, for better or worse, gone all-in on this season. If they’re going to get through it while having everyone’s jobs intact, London is going to need a big season. London and star running back Bijan Robinson are the future of this team — and it’s almost time for London to get paid like one.
London might not be able to get Justin Jefferson or Ja’Marr Chase money, but he’s still going to be in line to get paid like a top-shelf wide receiver after this season. Shoot, he might still get it even if he doesn’t have the true breakout explosive year everyone is hopeful for down in the Falcons’ organization. There’s a lot to gain for London this year, but as the summer kicks off and training camp arrives, the Falcons need a big year from London more than anyone.
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