Drake London keeps giving the Falcons a simple answer to a hard problem: when the play breaks down, throw it his way.
Atlanta has one of the league’s best contested-catch receivers in London, and that skill should be part of the offense’s identity far more often. With quarterback play not expected to be stellar in 2026, London’s size and ability to win through contact could be exactly what keeps drives alive.
That was on display again Thursday during the Falcons’ joint practice with the Indianapolis Colts, when London beat cornerback Justin Walley for a highlight catch. The reaction online came quickly.
"Said it before and I'll say it again, Drake London is one of, if not, the best 1 on 1 jump ball WRs in the NFL," analyst Miles Garrett wrote on X.
It’s not a wild claim. London checks every box that makes life miserable for defensive backs: he’s 6-foot-4, nearly 220 pounds, and brings the catch radius and physicality needed to turn tight coverage into a losing assignment. Atlanta should be leaning into that more often.
The case for London as one of the NFL’s top contested-catch receivers isn’t built on one practice rep, either. The numbers have backed it up for years.
NFL.com previously noted that London had 40 contested catches over his first two seasons, the most in the league over that stretch. PFF also ranked him as the NFL’s fourth-best receiver on contested targets in 2025, when he posted a 92.4 grade on 13 contested catches.
He backed that up during the 2025 season, too. Against New England in Week 9, London went up for a 40-yard jump ball against Christian Gonzalez and hauled it in. The Patriots’ own game observations called him a terrific contested-catch receiver and highlighted how difficult that play was to defend.
"I think Drake's skill set is he can do many things. And one of the things he can do is elevate to get the football, or be able to play it. With his background in basketball, his body control is, I think, elite,” Will McFadden commented.
That’s the kind of matchup Atlanta should be hunting. If London is isolated on a corner with no safety help, there’s no need to force separation every time. Sometimes the best decision is just giving No. 5 a chance to win.
But that doesn’t mean the Falcons should reduce him to a jump-ball specialist. London is too complete for that. He can work the slot, he’s been moved around the formation over the last few seasons, and he gives the offense options depending on how defenses play him.
If a corner is tight, Tua Tagovailoa (or Michael Penix Jr.) can trust London to battle through contact. If the defender gives cushion, Atlanta can take the easy completion. And if a defensive back is left alone without safety help, that’s when the Falcons should be willing to take the shot.
There are plenty of reasons to keep giving him those chances. The Falcons need to treat him like the safety valve he’s shown he can become.
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