Why Falcons receiver Drake London is due for a breakout season in 2023

How Drake London works with Desmond Ridder will be a central determinant of how well his career develops with the Falcons.

The Atlanta Falcons selected wide receiver Drake London with the eighth pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith took London as the first wide receiver off the board, even though Garrett Wilson — who won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award — Chris Olave, and Jameson Willams were all available.

London finished the season with 72 receptions, 866 yards, and four touchdowns. He finished tied for 25th in the NFL with 117 targets.

I would expect Drake London to pick up right where he left off in the last several weeks of the 2022 NFL season. In Weeks 13–18, he finished as a top-20 receiver, generating 428 receiving yards.

Despite the mediocrity of the Falcons’ run-first offense, Drake London is poised for a massive second-year NFL campaign, with Desmond Ridder slated as the full-time starting quarterback in 2023.

London is projected to record 78 catches, 1,006 yards and 6 touchdowns this season per DraftSharks. Cracking the 1,000-yard mark while being a little more reliable in catching passes and making game-defining plays would give the Falcons renewed belief that they picked the right man one year ago.

[lawrence-auto-related count=1 tag=696090378]