Bleacher Report recently identified what it calls each NFL team’s “Most Promising Building Block Entering 2025.” The Atlanta Falcons would have a few candidates that fit that bill.
Quarterback Michael Penix, Jr. would be a good place to start, although he was a rookie last season and has never entered an NFL season as a starter. How about running back Bijan Robinson, who broke out last year with 1,456 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns?
No, Bleacher Report went with wide receiver Drake London, who finally exploded onto to the scene in 2024 after the team selected him No. 8 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft (anyone notice the Falcons seem to have the eighth pick in the draft quite a bit?).
“The Atlanta Falcons have exercised the fifth-year option in Drake London’s deal, and they should ramp up negotiations on a multiyear extension,” writes Moe Moton.
“Last year, despite quarterback Kirk Cousins’ struggles in the pocket and Michael Penix Jr.’s inexperience, London broke out with 100 receptions for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns.
“After a couple of decent but underwhelming years for a former top-eight overall pick, London showcased his full potential even with instability under center. Clearly, the No. 1 receiver in Atlanta and an ascending playmaker, he could make the NFC Pro Bowl roster if Penix makes a second-year leap as the Falcons’ full-time starting signal-caller.”
London should probably have higher aspirations than just making the Pro Bowl since just about everyone makes it these days.
When do the Falcons sign London to an extension?
The Falcons have a little problem and it’s called salary cap space. In the sense that they don’t have much. According to Sportrac, the Falcons have $5,335,196 in 2025 cap space which is 29th in the NFL. That’s not good, but these are the kinds of things that happen when you have a backup quarterback eating up $40 million of your cap.
The next four players on the cap list all take up anywhere from $15 million to $22.5 million and none of them are younger than 28-years old. With London coming up for a new deal soon, and if Penix and Robinson are to be further developed and retained…well, you can see the problem. Moton thinks the Falcons should do something sooner rather than later.
“Atlanta should offer London a pay raise before the price for his extension goes up next offseason,” he writes.
Falcons should watch the Bengals and do the opposite
Besides the aforementioned young guys, the Falcons also just spent two first-round picks on defenders Jalon Walker and James Pearce, Jr. While they are on rookie contracts and don’t need to be dealt with for a while, the Falcons would be wise to keep an eye on it. The last thing they want to do is pull a Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals had to sign quarterback Joe Burrow to big money and they did. They also backed up the Brinks truck for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but they ended up paying more because they dragged their feet and they ended up costing more. Now, they have a cap wrapped up in three players and don’t want to offer market value for Trey Hendrickson. Heck, they can’t even sign their own draft picks.
So, if the Falcons really want to keep London and not blow up their cap, they should look into it sooner rather than later. If he develops the way they think he will, his price tag is only going to go up. Oh, and they better find away to get out from underneath that brutal Kirk Cousins contract.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Atlanta Falcons Wideout Named Team’s Most Important Building Block appeared first on Heavy Sports.