Flowery Branch – Drake London has been everything the Atlanta Falcons expected since they drafted him with the No. 8 overall pick in 2022. Now entering into his fifth season, Drake is ready to take the next step into his career.
The 25-year old wide receiver is embarking on a new role with the Falcons. London has become a leader on the team, in particular, for his fellow wide receivers.
He is now the most tenured wide receiver and he’s tied with Jahan Dotson for second with the most experience in the wide receiver room.
“Coming into the league at 20, it feels kind of weird to come to a man with the right words when he may be like 30,” said London. “It kinda feels awkward. At this point of my career now, I feel great, and then to be vocal and to be a leader of the room, which we all are. It’s just the right thing to step up and be that guy.”
Being one of the “older” guys in the receiver room, London still has the luxury to lean on veteran receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who’s back in his second stint with the Falcons.
“That’s my dawg, that my OG right there,” stated London. “He keeps me calm, cool and collected in understanding where we at.”
Coming into his fifth training camp with the Falcons, Kevin Stefanski is his third head coach and this will be the third different offense he’s played in. London understands that this is a business at the end of the day and he just needs to be ready to learn and worry about what happens on the field.
One aspect that has been consistent is having the core of the offense stay the same with running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr.
“It helps a ton because we can lean on each other and we know what to expect and how to lead ourselves,” London explained.
“I don’t want to say we’re the guys on the team but people do look at us on how we conduct ourselves so we know how to go about that in situations where we do get a new coach or something like that or a new quarterback situation or anything like that. We just lean on each other and try to make the best of the situation.”
After signing a new contract, turning 25 years old and just becoming engaged, things might be moving fast but with his maturity, he’s taking it all in stride.
