Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London has ‘something to prove’ with Kirk Cousins

As Drake London answered questions on the outskirts of the Atlanta Falcons’ practice field in Flowery Branch, he felt the need to offer a quick correction.

“None of us ever averaged 25 points a game,” one reporter said, referring to London’s basketball past that includes a stellar high school career and a brief stint as a Trojans player. from USC.

“Thirty,” London said with a smile before answering another question.

About 80 seconds earlier, London, donning flip flops and a Falcons “Salute to Service” camouflage hoodie, laughed while yelling in response to a trio of Falcons defensive backs led by safety Jessie Bates III.

The third-year receiver acted and spoke as relaxed as he looked — a glimpse of the confidence he found with the first-year duo of head coach Raheem Morris and quarterback Kirk Cousins.

But don’t be fooled. London, who has led the Falcons in targets, catches and yards in each of his two professional seasons since being selected No. 8 overall in 2022, is focused on sending a message this fall.

“Let’s just say I have a bad taste in my mouth,” London said. “That’s it.”

London burst onto the scene with a strong rookie season two years ago, catching a Falcons rookie record 72 passes for 866 yards and four scores. He was the go-to target for an offense that finished third in the league in rushing but struggled through the air, switching from Marcus Mariota to Desmond Ridder at quarterback for the final four matches.

The inconsistency and ineptitude under center continued in 2023, when Ridder started 13 games but was benched twice for Taylor Heinicke, who started four contests.

Still, London produced, hauling in 69 receptions for 905 yards and two touchdowns. He’s still looking for his first 1,000-yard campaign and is eyeing a breakthrough in 2024 — one in which he plans to wash the bad taste out of his mouth.

“I have to go out there and play and play,” London said. “It is more or less that.”

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London’s home stretch of 2023 may not do justice to the rollercoaster ride it has been on for much of the year.

He enjoyed supreme highs, headlined by a 10-catch, 172-yard performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a nine-catch, 125-yard outing against the Washington Commanders, but deafening lows, failing to eclipse 50 yards in eight of his. 16 appearances.

But the faces around London are much different today – Morris and Cousins ​​are just the beginning.

His new wide receivers coach, Ike Hilliard, brings more than a decade of on-field experience as a wide receiver in the NFL, which he has parlayed into a long coaching career and what he described as an “in-helmet perspective”.

Hilliard replaces TJ Yates, a former quarterback who now works with Atlanta’s signal-callers, a role he noted he is more comfortable in. There’s also offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who followed Morris to the Los Angeles Rams, where he played quarterback. coach.

Last season, the Rams led the NFL with 11 completions, which included numerous three-receiver sets, at 93.1 percent. The Falcons ranked 31st in the same category, running it just 15.5 percent of the time. Atlanta led the league with 12 personnel — one running back, two tight ends — at 41.8 percent, according to SumerSports.

Broadly speaking, London is still adapting as it begins OTAs. He’s also adjusting to a new receiving room in which he and KhaDarel Hodge are the only pass-catching returners in 2023.

The Falcons signed former Chicago Bears starter Darnell Mooney and former San Francisco 49ers return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud. They traded for Rondale Moore from the Arizona Cardinals. They selected Illinois star Casey Washington in the sixth round and signed several others after the draft.

London said the group has come together very well, and he thinks the pieces – from the coach to the scheme to the quarterbacks and everything in between – are as well positioned to play as they have been during his time there. in Atlanta.

“Holding each other accountable — I think my previous ballrooms have always been like that, I just don’t think we can shine as much as we will now,” London said. “So I’m very excited about the future.”

Coming out of high school, London thought basketball was his best sport. He now finds himself entering his third NFL season at the forefront of a revitalized offense, ready to break through.

For London, external expectations are even higher internally – and he is ready to deliver.

“You always have something to prove in this league,” London said. “There’s always new people coming in, there’s always veterans that are going to stay there and be great. So, I want to go out there and fight back too, because I know what I can do. I know what type of player I am.”

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