The Atlanta Falcons could have a new dynamic duo in 2025. New starting quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. started just three games last year, but it didn’t take him long to figure out that wide receiver Drake London can be quite a force.
Penix predicts that the two of them could do great things with a full season together.
“Drake’s obviously a baller,” Penix said this week. “He’s somebody that’s going to get the ball a lot this year. He did last year as well. We’re definitely going to find ways to make sure he has a great season this year. He’s deserving of it. He puts in the work each and every day at practice, not just on game days. He takes every route serious, and that’s what you appreciate as a quarterback in your receivers going 100% all the time.”
Despite not making the Pro Bowl (pretty stunning since almost everyone makes it these days), London still put up impressive numbers with 100 catches for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns.
Arkesh Ray of Sports Illustrated crunches London’s 2024 numbers with Penix at the helm perfectly.
“In his three games with Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback, London had 22 catches, 352 yards (including a career high of 189 yards against the Panthers), and two touchdowns,” Ray writes. “Extrapolated across a full 17-game season, that would amount to 125 catches, 1,944 yards, and 11 touchdowns.”
If they can even accomplish a fraction of that it would be amazing.
Where does London rank in the NFL?
Sadly for London, he’s still not getting enough credit after being the eighth-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. But, Penix doesn’t think that lack of recognition will last long.
“He won’t after this year,” Penix said with a confident, straight face in response to a question about whether or not London gets overlooked.
Penix was also asked if he thought London was a top-10 wide receiver in the NFL.
“Yeah, for sure. Easy,” Penix replied.
London’s lack of recognition probably due to his team
The Falcons haven’t made the playoffs since 2017 and during that time have been a bit of an afterthought in the NFC. The conference is relatively weak outside of the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions. The Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders can probably be in that discussion too.
But, despite his mediocre team, London has still put up numbers.
In his rookie year, London hauled in 72 passes for 866 yards and four touchdowns. That’s very good for a rookie year on a team that hardly had an explosive offense. In his second year he was solid again, catching 69 balls for 906 yards and two touchdowns. So, he was productive even before last year’s breakout season.
In 2024, with the addition of Kirk Cousins at quarterback (with a late assist from Penix), the Falcons had the 7th-ranked passing game (in terms of yards) in the entire NFL. They are clearly improving, even if it hasn’t shown up in the standings.
London and Penix will now have a full offseason together and, if their time together last season is any indication, should be primed for quite a big year. It’s safe to say that fantasy football owners might want to move London (and maybe Penix too) up their draft boards.
