Atlanta Falcons select USC WR Drake London with the 8th pick. Grade: B

With the eighth pick in the 2022 NFL draft, the Atlanta Falcons select Drake London, WR, USC.

GRADE: B.

The Falcons came into this draft needing just about everything, and it’s no surprise that they went with a receiver here. London has the ability to body any cornerback out, and his catch radius is special. He’ll be a great complement to tight end Kyle Pitts. There are legitimate concerns about London’s ability to separate, but as a big slot guy, he could be very special.

Mark Schofield’s scouting report:

Height: 6’4″ (90th) Weight: 219 (88th)
40-Yard Dash: N/A
Bench Press: N/A
Vertical Jump: N/A
Broad Jump: N/A
3-Cone Drill: N/A
20-Yard Shuttle: N/A

Bio: Drake London was a talented two-sport athlete for Moorpark High School in Moorpark, California, starring on the gridiron in the fall and the hardwood in the winter. During his senior year, he caught 62 passes for 1,089 yards and a touchdown. That winter he averaged a double-double on the basketball court, averaging 29 points and 12 rebounds a game.

He signed with USC to play both sports, and saw action as a true freshman in both football and basketball. he caught 39 passes for 567 yards and five touchdowns in the fall, and played in three games for the USC basketball team that winter. He decided to focus on football, and in the shortened 2020 season he caught 33 passes for 502 yards and three touchdowns.

Last year, London caught 88 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns, despite missing the final few games of the season with a fractured right ankle. Even with the missed time, he was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year.

Stat to Know: According to Pro Football Focus charting data, London led receivers with 19 contested catch receptions last year. While that might lead to some wondering whether he can separate, as we will see he checks that box as well.

Strengths: What might work most in London’s favor is that he stands out as perhaps the prototypical “X” receiver in a class that sees more options at the “Z” role or even in the slot. London has the ability to line up at the X, face press-aligned defenders, and separate either off the line with his release package or at the catch point with his size and physical style of play. That is where you see his basketball background come into play, as he is more than comfortable playing in the proverbial phone booth.

Studying London on film, you might first be drawn to what he offers in the downfield passing game. He has the ability to win on those routes by high-pointing the football, or making adjustments to back-shoulder throws. Plays like this against Oregon State, where he adjusts to an underthrown nine route, are going to endear him to his NFL quarterbacks:

Where London sets himself apart in this class is how he separates early in the down as well, even against press-aligned defenders. Two games to study for this trait are Arizona and Washington State, where he worked himself open both initially off the line, or at the catch point using his frame and physical style of play. On this slant route against Arizona, London separates off the line using a quick stutter-step:

Even when the corner does a better job in press coverage, London’s physicality through the route and to the catch point serves him well:

London is one of a few players in this draft who can step in and serve as a prototypical X receiver. His ability to separate makes him more than just a “contested catch receiver,” and will help an NFL offense in a number of ways, and in a variety of systems.

Weaknesses: However, unlike others in this class London is not a speed demon. Teams looking for that 4.3 type of receiver might keep looking after getting to his name on their draft board. London also was a little inconsistent at the catch point, as he dropped eight catchable passes last season.

Also, he is coming off the fractured ankle, so we have not gotten to see him test yet. What he does at his Pro Day — scheduled for April 5th — could complete the picture for his evaluation.

Conclusion: Some have posited that London’s best role in the NFL could be as a big slot receiver, and USC did use him in that alignment a number of times last season. Adding a prototypical X receiver who can also play in the slot, and can separate early in the down and at the catch point, seems like a dream scenario in my book. His experience against press-aligned defenders will make his transition to the NFL a bit easier than it will be for others in this class.

Comparison: Mike Evans is a name that is mentioned often with London, and if you squint hard enough you can see that aspect to his game, particularly with how he was used in college and how he could be utilized in the NFL. Mike Renner of Pro Football Focus mentioned Brandon Marshall as another comparison, which also tracks quite well.