Falcons Exercise Fifth-Year Option on Wide Receiver Drake London

The Atlanta Falcons have officially picked up the fifth-year option on standout wide receiver Drake London, ensuring the 2022 first-round draft pick remains under contract through the 2026 season.

London, selected eighth overall out of USC, has quickly become a cornerstone of the Falcons’ offense. Over his first three seasons, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound receiver has amassed 241 receptions for 3,042 yards and 15 touchdowns in 50 games, including 48 starts.

In 2024, London posted his most impressive season yet. Starting all 17 games, he set career highs across the board with 100 receptions for 1,271 yards (12.7 avg) and nine touchdowns, leading the team in both receptions and receiving yards for a third straight year. His 100 catches made him the first player in franchise history to record at least 65 receptions in each of his first three seasons. He also passed Calvin Ridley for the most receptions by a Falcons player in their first three years.

London’s performance placed him among elite company—he was one of just four players in the NFL to tally at least 100 receptions, 1,200 yards, and nine touchdowns in 2024, joining Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase, and Amon-Ra St. Brown.

The former Trojan also led Atlanta’s receiving corps in 2023, hauling in 69 passes for 905 yards and two touchdowns over 16 games. His rookie season in 2022 was equally noteworthy, as he set a Falcons rookie record with 72 receptions for 866 yards and four touchdowns. He also became the first rookie in team history to log at least five receptions in five consecutive games, all occurring during the final five weeks of the season.

London’s continued production and development made exercising his fifth-year option an easy decision for Atlanta’s front office, as the franchise looks to build around its dynamic young receiver for years to come