NFL Draft 2022 tracker: Live blog and pick-by-pick analysis
Head coach Arthur Smith has coveted a big-bodied wide receiver since arriving in Atlanta, and the Falcons’ need at the position got that much bigger when Calvin Ridley was suspended by the NFL for at least the 2022 season for gambling on NFL games. Viewed through that lens, the pick of Drake London makes sense for the Falcons. But the 6-foot-4, 219-pound London wasn’t considered the No. 1 wide receiver available in this draft by many analysts.
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Big board ranking: Brugler ranked London No. 15 on his big board, which makes the pick a statistical reach for Atlanta. That reach looks particularly long considering Brugler had Ohio State wide receiver Garrett Wilson and Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams ranked higher.
Introduction: London didn’t run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine or his pro day because he still was recovering from a broken ankle suffered in the Trojans’ eighth game of last season, but his athleticism is unquestioned. He played one year of basketball at USC.
London said he didn’t run the 40 at his pro day because he had only been running full speed for four days at that time.
“I’m not going to go out there and run a 40 without any training,” he said. “I feel like I proved what I needed to prove.”
How he fits: Atlanta’s wide receiver depth chart on Thursday afternoon had 5-8, 193-pound Olamide Zaccheaus, 5-9, 175-pound Damiere Byrd and 6-5, 228-pound Auden Tate at the top, so London fits in pretty well. The seven receivers on the Falcons’ roster before the London pick combined for 74 catches, 945 yards and five touchdowns last year. London had 88 catches for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns last season at USC. In eight games.
Second guess? The obvious thought here is, “Why no pass rusher?” Atlanta was last in the NFL last season with 18 sacks. The No. 31 team in the league had 29 sacks. The Falcons desperately need edge rushers, and Florida State’s Jermaine Johnson was still on the board at the No. 8 pick. Johnson was ranked 11th on Brugler’s Big Board.
Rookie impact: London should immediately become Atlanta’s No. 1 wide receiver, even if he wouldn’t say that when he met with Atlanta-based media members briefly Thursday night.
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“Whatever coach wants me to do, I’m going to do it,” he said. “I have to get there first to tell you what kind of role I’m going to be in. I have to earn those stripes. I’m not looking for any handouts given to me.”
Depth-chart impact: London pronounced himself fully healthy on Thursday night but said his conditioning still needs some work. There’s plenty of time for that before the fall so expect him to be a Day 1 starter and on the field a lot.
The prospect of the 6-4 London and 6-4 Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts on the field in the red zone should be enticing to Atlanta fans who watched their team finish 24th in the NFL in 2021 in red zone touchdown percentage (53.7).
“I do have the size and I feel like that twin towers thing, me and Kyle, could be something special,” London said.
Fast evaluation: “I’m somebody who goes up and gets the ball whether he’s covered or not. I think (the Falcons) are getting a playmaker.” That’s London’s evaluation of himself. We will see. This isn’t like taking an offensive lineman. When you take a wide receiver in the top 10 of the draft, it’s usually pretty clear right away if that player was worth it or not.
(Photo: Robert Hanashiro / USA Today)
