Falcons’ Drake London extension becomes OTA centerpiece as teammates praise WR1

Flowery Branch felt like a celebration on Monday as the Atlanta Falcons held their final OTA practice open to media, and the loudest storyline on the sideline was Drake London’s newly signed contract extension. London, a former first-round pick, has been a fixture of Atlanta’s passing game since arriving in 2022, and the sense inside the building was that his work finally matched the investment. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson said the first call he made after finding out about the deal was to London, adding, “I was so happy for him… He deserves it.”

Robinson’s enthusiasm was rooted in what London has already produced for Atlanta. Through his first four seasons, London has compiled 3,961 receiving yards, which ranks 10th in franchise history, and he has reached 900-plus receiving yards in three separate seasons. In 2024, he set a career high with 1,271 receiving yards, and while 2025 came with a setback that cost him five games, London still totaled 919 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 contests. His 76.6 receiving yards per game ranked seventh among wide receivers last season, according to the Falcons’ practice report.

The contract itself was made official over the weekend and gives Atlanta certainty at the position through the 2030 season. The Falcons announced a four-year extension, worth $141 million with up to $150 million attainable, including $100 million guaranteed. General manager Ian Cunningham framed the move as more than a reward, saying London “represents exactly what we’re building here” in relation to the club’s approach to drafting, developing, and keeping core players.

The extension also mattered for how Atlanta’s offense looked on a day when multiple quarterbacks were getting reps. On Michael Penix Jr.’s scheduled rest day, Tua Tagovailoa took the lead in on-field work and, according to the practice report, delivered sharp throws including a throw to tight end Joshua Simon during 7-on-7s that turned into a long run after the catch. During an 11-on-11 red-zone period, Tagovailoa connected with Robinson, Chris Blair, and Casey Washington for touchdowns.

Atlanta’s other OTA notes offered additional context for what the Falcons are emphasizing as training camp approaches. Rookie cornerback Avieon Terrell was brought along “slowly” due to a hamstring issue he dealt with before the draft, but he was still involved in both 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Kick returner reps from the jugs machine included Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, Zachariah Branch, Dylan Drummond, Keelan Marion, and Vinny Anthony II, showing how the team is using the open practice to test roles beyond primary offense and defense.

Penix’s availability was the other major watch point. While he did not participate in on-field drills, Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Penix is progressing back from a knee injury and that no timeline has been set for when he could fully return to practice. Stefanski also indicated the plan is to focus on milestones rather than calendar targets. For Atlanta, that matters because the London extension now sets a clear long-term target, but the weekly quarterback rhythm still has to settle.

With London locked into the Falcons’ future and the team continuing to evaluate how its passing game functions across different quarterback looks, the next questions are practical: how quickly the offense builds consistent timing with London as the primary receiver, and how soon Penix’s workload can increase as camp nears. Monday’s OTA offered plenty of optimism, but the real test will show up once the practices get sharper and the reps stop being optional.