The Falcons took plenty of heat in June when they handed Drake London a four-year, $141 million extension, but seven weeks into the season, that deal looks a lot easier to defend.
London’s new contract pushed him to third among NFL wide receivers in annual salary, behind only Ja’Marr Chase at $40.25 million per year and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at $42.15 million. At the time, it was a huge number for a player without an All-Pro nod or a Pro Bowl selection.
But Atlanta wasn’t paying for what London had already done. The bet was on what he could become.
So far in 2026, that wager is looking sharp.
With Michael Penix Jr. healthy, London has been one of the league’s most productive pass-catchers, and the quarterback connection has only made the extension look smarter. If the Falcons had waited, his price would have climbed even higher based on the way he has played this season.
Through seven weeks, London ranks third in the NFL with 616 receiving yards. Only Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who has 867, and Chris Olave, with 636, have more. That’s the kind of production Atlanta wanted when it committed to him.
His latest performance came in the Falcons’ 29-20 upset over the San Francisco 49ers. London finished with seven catches on 10 targets for 66 yards and finally found the end zone for the first time this season, hauling in a 21-yard touchdown from Penix.
His touchdown drought had stretched back to the 2025 season finale against the Saints, and that streak ended at the right time. The score pushed Atlanta ahead by two touchdowns to open the fourth quarter.
Penix to London to extend the Atlanta lead!
📺️: FOX/FOX One pic.twitter.com/TdZhj0d5iW
- FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 25, 2026
That connection mattered even more because the 49ers were focused on stopping Bijan. London answered by moving the chains, picking up first downs on four of his catches. That kind of reliability is exactly why Penix trusts him.
London’s résumé still only includes one 1,000-yard season, though he is on pace for a second. Even so, he has never finished a season with fewer than 850 receiving yards. That steady production has become part of his value, along with what he brings in the locker room.
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, London has the size, hands, speed and route-running ability to be a true WR1. He can be moved around the formation, and his physical style creates problems for defenses already dealing with Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts.
He may not be in the same salary tier as Chase or Smith-Njigba, but London has played like one of the NFL’s six or seven best wide receivers. With Penix back healthy and feeding him the ball, the Falcons have every reason to feel good about the $141 million they invested.
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