Drake London

The week started on a low note and ended with a flourish. Let's take a look back at the events that could resonate for months to come. 

It was wideouts and quarterbacks podium day at the NFL Combine on Friday. The Falcons have a few holes to fill at receiver. Could one of these draft-eligible receivers be a fit? 

Tori McElhaney, Terrin Waack and Amna Subhan discuss. 

Arthur Smith updates the status of Eddie Goldman, Bijan Robinson makes play of the day. 

Intensity rises as defensive backs and receivers face off.  

When it came time for the the No. 113 overall pick in this year's draft, the Falcons went after something that can't be taught: Fearlessness. 

Atlanta was one of the biggest spenders in free agency, then they followed it up by bringing in 12 more rookies (those drafted and those picked up as UDFAs). Where does that leave them with OTAs right around the corner?

If you've been paying attention to the Falcons team-building strategy at all since Terry Fontenot and Arthur Smith took over in Atlanta, you know they've consistently gone against the grain. 

Scott Bair, Tori McElhaney and Ashton Edmunds discuss. 

Miller spent the last four seasons in Tampa Bay

Gonzalez recalls matchup with Drake London during his days with Colorado. Says he's the toughest matchup he had in college. 

Scott Bair, Tori McElhaney and Ashton Edmunds discuss. 

With the football calendar about to heat up again, we get those questions cooking. 

The No. 8 overall pick transitioned well to the NFL game, showing potential to get even better in Year 2

Outside of Drake London, the Falcons receiver corps might look a lot different in 2023

The entire offensive line and position coach Dwayne Ledford get some love in this year's honors

The Falcons are projected to have more money towards the cap than at any point combined in the last two offseason. That means we will see a different offseason approach from this organization once the new league year arrives. 

... and why you should be, too. 

Emergence of Drake London, Tyler Allgeier and others has shortened Falcons offseason shopping list

Falcons beat Tampa Bay 30-17 to finish season on two-game win streak

Draft order, games to watch and a Grady Jarrett revenge game all headline the final Five Things to Watch installment. 

While the Falcons have had an up-and-down season in 2022, they have shown promise throughout the year. This season marks the first time in franchise history that the Falcons have had rookies as their leading rusher and leading receiver. 

We're looking toward the future in this Wednesday mailbag

We know exactly what the Falcons need to prioritize this offseason. Another 

Atlanta leads the league in players on the roster under the age of 26 years old. That meant growing pains in 2022, but could provide something useful in the years to come. 

The Atlanta Falcons proved a lot of people wrong in 2022. Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot are on to the next phase as we look ahead to a very different outlook this offseason. There is still a lot to prove and we are carrying that energy into 2023. Let's get to work.

NFL Media's Tom Pelissero has the latest news on where Desmond Ridder fits in to the Atlanta Falcons quarterback plans.

Watch the best plays by Atlanta Falcons rookie wide receiver Drake London from the 2022 NFL season.

Watch the 10 best highlight plays made by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL season.

Pro Football Focus drops this year's list of the top graded rookies from the 2022 season

Scott, Tori and Ashton discuss what should be a fascinating offseason for the Falcons franchise, with the 2022 season officially in the rearview. We evaluate quarterback Desmond Ridder's four NFL starts and why he deserves the right to compete for the starting gig. We also preview the offseason and identify pressing needs that must be filled in free agency and the NFL Draft, which players to re-sign and which players they should extend now that the Falcons have tons of salary-cap space and quality draft capital.

Timestamps:

(00:00:15): Intro, what happens next after 2022 season comes to a close

(00:09:25): A four-game evaluation of Desmond Ridder and the Falcons QB situation moving forward 

(00:18:49): Most pressing positional needs: skill player vs. pass rusher

(00:24:27): Which players on expiring contracts Falcons should re-sign

Scott, Tori and Ashton take a look at what the Falcons must do over their last two games, and how to evaluate players and their progress while compiling an offseason priority list. We talk extensively about Desmond Ridder and the quarterback position moving forward, about adding depth at the skill spots and finding intimidators throughout the defensive front.

Timestamps:

(00:00:15): Intro, what Ravens game said about offseason priorities

(00:06:40): Evaluating Desmond Ridder's performance, and offseason QB needs

(00:14:05): Drake London and WR/TE evaluation

(00:22:00): Evaluating Falcons defense, including Grady Jarrett's stellar season

(00:25:15): Discussing the need for additions on DL, edge rusher

Watch all of Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London's best plays from 96-yard game vs. Baltimore Ravens during Week 16 of the 2022 NFL season.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London raises the roof for 20-yard catch in red zone to give the Falcons prime scoring position.

Falcons receiver Drake London joins Scott and Tori for an in-depth conversation about life growing up as a two-sport star, balancing football and basketball schedules well into his USC career. The No. 8 overall NFL Draft pick also details his upbringing in a close, supportive family, his tight bond with his equally famous sister and that time Drake (the rapper) bet on Drake (the football player).

Scott, Tori and Ashton break down Desmond Ridder's first regular-season start in great detail, putting it under the microscope and into the bigger picture, setting a baseline for how to evaluate his games moving forward. They also look at Tyler Allgeier's season and the best game of his young career, plus Drake London's showing, both the good and bad, in this Week 15 contest.

Timecodes:

(00:00:15): Takeaways from Saints loss, why Falcons performance is more important than NFC South race

(00:08:09): Breaking down Desmond Ridder's performance

(00:23:30): On Tyler Allgeier's big day, rookie development

(00:28:38): Why passing inefficiency plagues Falcons

(00:29:20): Evaluating Drake London's day, the good and bad, and what he said afterward

(00:34:00) On Dean Pees carted off pregame, and optimistic outlook after coming home with the the team

Drake London speaks to the media after the loss to New Orleans.

Watch rookie WR Drake London as he's mic'd up for a career-high 95-yard game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Atlanta Falcons, fueled by Cordarrelle Patterson's historic NFL record kickoff return touchdown, defeat Chicago Bears at home in Week 11.

Drake London speaks to the media about the upcoming game against the Chicago Bears and his faith in Marcus Mariota.

Drake London speaks to the media about still learning the game.

The PFF highest graded Falcons players through the first five weeks of regular season.

Drake London speaks to media about playing with a sense of urgency.

Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota speaks to the media in Seattle ahead of week 3 matchup against the Seahawks.

Scott and Tori make sense of that crazy game between the Falcons and Rams, analyzing how Atlanta got in trouble and how it nearly erased a massive deficit down the stretch. We also look at Kyle Pitts' relative lack of production over the first two weeks, plus how Drake London has made a truly instant impact

Drake London speaks to the media about the NFL being a dog fight.

NFL Network's Peter Schrager breaks down the best rookie performances of Week 1.

PFF grades are in, which Falcons players made the top of the list?

Scott, Tori and Ashton break down where things got away from Falcons in the fourth quarter, after assuming control in the first three quarters. They identify things to build on, and what must happen this week so one loss doesn't impact another game.

Timecodes: 

(00:00:20): Intro, recap of Falcons loss to Saints

(00:01:30): What went wrong for Falcons in fourth quarter

(00:05:00): Finding positives in run game, pass rush during the Falcons season opener 

(00:08:46): What Falcons must do to turn the page quickly

(00:10:40): Evaluating Drake London's NFL debut

Drake London speaks to the media following the Falcons loss to the Saints.