Drake London

Defining success for NFL's seven biggest Super Bowl longshots, including Raiders, Jets and Titans

What does a successful season look like for these Super Bowl longshots? Las Vegas has been handicapping the upcoming season since the prior concluded in February and, through Super Bowl odds, expressed how it perceives each team. Seven teams held +10000 odds or worse. Unfortunately, four of those teams were on last year's list, too. The following is in order from shortest to longest odds: Tennessee enters the second year with quarterback Cam Ward and the first year with coach Robert Saleh. At the bare minimum, the objective should be not to be on this list next year. A success would be feeling good about the Ward-Saleh pairing heading into 2027. The Titans spent heavily, particularly on the defensive side of the ball ($125 million total guaranteed). It may take some time for that group to come together, but the hope is that they adopt Saleh's hard-nosed demeanor. If all goes as planned, the franchise will be tasked with replacing pieces of the operation next offseason rather than the operation itself, positioning them to take a big leap within the AFC South. The vibes around the Falcons are not great, but few can boast the collection of elite offensive skill talent -- wide receiver Drake London , running back Bijan Robinson and tight end Kyle Pitts -- assembled in Atlanta. The best possible outcome would be having clarity on Michael Penix Jr. , one way or another, entering the offseason. If Penix is fully healthy and establishes himself as an investment-caliber quarterback, it would allow them to funnel resources elsewhere. Alternatively, if neither Tua Tagovailoa nor Penix inspires confidence, it would open the door for the team to go in another direction at the position. In either scenario, the Falcons would be staring down a full season from edge rushers James Pearce Jr . and Jalon Walker , as well as the hope that a new quarterback brings. Atlanta will have the most salary cap space by a wide margin this offseason, according to Spotrac. Las Vegas' best possible outlook boils down to the success of No. 1 overall selection Fernando Mendoza and first-year coach Klint Kubiak. Despite Kirk Cousins being named the Week 1 starter, Mendoza must see the field this season and showcase the skill set that enabled him to be drafted so early, which in turn creates optimism as the 2027 campaign begins. Beyond Mendoza, the Raiders bringing in another supreme talent with an early draft pick as part of the long-term vision would be another step in the right direction. Las Vegas ranks among the top-10 in projected salary cap space as well. The Browns had arguably the best rookie class a year ago, and the early returns on the 2026 draft class have been promising as well. The limitations at quarterback have capped the potential of this season, but they have positioned themselves well to bring in that player next offseason through the trade of Myles Garrett . In an ideal world, Cleveland would be feeling good about the collection of offensive rookie talent -- offensive tackle Spencer Fano and wide receivers Denzel Boston , KC Concepcion -- after the season, while simultaneously being in position to draft its quarterback of choice in 2027. In each of the past two years, the franchise has been in the top six overall of a one-quarterback draft, but failed to secure that player. It is important to note that the 2027 season would be the first without quarterback Deshaun Watson on the roster since 2021. New York is the most difficult to project because what is best for the franchise is not what is best for the coaching staff. Aaron Glenn knows his job is on the line and will be desperate for wins. Too many wins, however, could conceivably put a potential franchise quarterback outside of the organization's reach. They have three first-round picks to move up if another team is willing to deal, but what if it is like the 2024 NFL Draft, where every team in the top three overall selected a quarterback, and there was no other option? Could th [... truncated ...]

Falcons name Tua Tagovailoa starting QB over Michael Penix Jr. for Week 1

Falcons lock Tua Tagovailoa as Week 1 starter, bumping Michael Penix Jr. to backup, while keeping key offensive weapons Bijan Robinson and Drake London in the lineup

Trade: David Montgomery ↔ Drake London

Trade: Drake London ← Garrett Wilson

Trade: Emmett Johnson, Davante Adams, Dak Prescott +3 more

Falcons vs. Dolphins: How to stream, TV channel, start time, odds, and more

The Miami Dolphins close the 2026 preseason by hosting Tua Tagovailoa and the Atlanta Falcons. We have everything you need to watch the game

2026 Fantasy football predictions at Polymarket: Josh Allen, Jahmyr Gibbs favored as overall points leader

Josh Allen and Jahmyr Gibbs are favored to be the overall points leaders in fantasy football for the 2026 NFL season at Polymarket

Trade: Rome Odunze, Drake London, George Pickens

Colts CB Justin Walley returns favor with pick‑six in joint‑practice against Falcons

WESTFIELD, Ind. — Indianapolis Colts cornerback Justin Walley found himself on both ends of highlight-reel plays during Wednesday’s joint-practice with the Atlanta Falcons, but it was the second-year nickel who got the last laugh in the final team session. Earlier on the opposite practice field, it was receiver Drake London who made a sensational snag […]

Finding the Top 10 Falcons in Bleacher Report’s 1000-player NFL Rankings

Before we start this exercise, close your eyes…well, read this first, and then close your eyes. Who are your top ten players for the Atlanta Falcons right now? Obviously, there’s the trio of Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London that should be locks, but who else makes the cut? Jessie Bates is a lock […]

George Pickens' 2026 season likely to be his Cowboys swan song after Quinnen Williams, Zay Flowers contracts

George Pickens is likely to play his final season with the Dallas Cowboys in 2026. The team prioritized extending defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, while wide receiver contracts for players like Zay Flowers and Drake London have escalated. Pickens, currently on the franchise tag, had a career year in 2025, but the Cowboys have not engaged in long-term contract talks with him

Michael Penix Jr. has Good Day in 7-on-7 Drills

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. had a positive showing in 7-on-7 drills during training camp, connecting on several passes including a long ball to Kyle Pitts Sr. However, he is still recovering from a torn ACL and has not yet been cleared for team drills. Penix is competing with Tua Tagovailoa for the starting job, but Tagovailoa is expected to start the season opener, impacting Penix's redraft and dynasty value

Trade: Gunnar Helm, Mike Washington, Eli Stowers +3 more

Buc'ees With The Boys trade — BillsMafiaFamily21 received: Amon-Ra St. Brown and Gunnar Helm. Mater’s Lemons received: Drake London, Eli Raridon, Eli Stowers, and Mike Washington

Show me the money: The next seven NFL players to get paid big bucks, including Rams' Puka Nacua

It has felt like the summer of extensions, hasn't it? Super Bowl champion Jaxon Smith-Njigba became the highest-paid wide receiver in NFL history with a new deal that averages $42.15 million per season, while Will Anderson Jr . is set to make a whopping $50 million per year rushing the passer down in Houston. Drake London of the Atlanta Falcons signed a massive $141 million extension that places him in the top three of highest-paid wide receivers, and there's Darnell Wright of the Chicago Bears , who is your new highest-paid right tackle of all time. NFL fans may be ready to turn their attention to actual football now that the calendar has flipped to August, but we are not done with contract extensions just yet. Front offices around the NFL are working feverishly to give their star players the long-term security they are after, and there are multiple position markets that could be reset in the coming days. Below, we will break down seven players who could cash in in the very near future. These are the guys that are next in line for the big bucks. The former fifth-round pick out of BYU has established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Puka Nacua led the NFL in receptions (129), receiving yards per game (107.2) and yards per route run (3.71) last season. He actually boasts the highest receiving yards per game total (95.3) in NFL history. Back in March, I pointed out there was an " extension race" between the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams with their star wideouts, and the Seahawks beat their rivals to the punch with JSN's record-breaking deal. You have to wonder how much tougher that made life for Les Snead and Co. Nacua is set to make $5,767,000 on the final year of his rookie deal, which is a ridiculous bargain. When he does sign his extension, it will be worth more than the $42.15 million AAV Smith-Njigba secured. Highest-paid player at position : Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15 million) We saw a similar "extension race" between the Detroit Lions and Falcons this offseason, and Atlanta won said race by agreeing to a three-year extension with Bijan Robinson that carries a maximum of $75 million. The deal reportedly includes $51 million in guaranteed money, which is the highest total for a running back on a second deal. Robinson had been "holding in" at training camp as he awaited this contract, and so is Jahmyr Gibbs in Detroit. Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Robinson's extension "is certainly not gonna hurt" Gibbs' situation, but I disagree. The running back market was just reset by about $2 million per year, and by much more when it comes to guaranteed money. The price to extend Gibbs just went up. There's motivation to get a deal done and get Gibbs back on the practice field. He's one of the best running backs in the NFL and a pillar of the Lions' offense. No player has scored more touchdowns in their first three seasons in NFL history (49). How long could this hold-in last? Is Gibbs going to show signs of rust by the regular season? Highest-paid player at position : Bijan Robinson ($22.5 million) I was confident that Devon Witherspoon was going to reset the cornerback market in July, and then boom, Denzel Ward comes out of nowhere with a two-year, $62.2 million extension. The former No. 5 overall pick out of Illinois is just the third defensive back in the last 40 years to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of their first three seasons, joining Charles Woodson and Patrick Peterson . Pro Bowls aren't the ultimate indicator of success, but it's not hard to see that Witherspoon is a stud. What really stands out about him is that he's just as competitive and effective in blitzing the quarterback and serving in run support as he is in covering wide receivers downfield. An absolute menace for this new-look "Legion of Boom" who deserves to reset the corner market. Highest-paid player at position : Denzel Ward ($31.1 million) Christian Gonzalez is another cornerback who should reset the [... truncated ...]

George Pickens' 2026 season likely to be his Cowboys swan song after Zay Flowers, Drake London contracts

The Dallas Cowboys and their fan base need to treasure Pro Bowl wide receiver George Pickens while they still can because the 2026 season will likely be his last in Dallas. While that is an incredibly gloomy thought early on in training camp, the time on the NFL calendar when hope springs eternal for all of the league's 32 teams, it's a realistic conclusion given the continual uptick in the wide receiver contracts market and what Dallas will likely choose to prioritize. The Baltimore Ravens inked two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers to a reported four-year, $140 million extension on Tuesday prior to the start of his fourth NFL season. That deal is identical to Minnesota Vikings 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year wide receiver Justin Jefferson's in both years and total contract value, with Jefferson earning $2 million more than Flowers in guaranteed money, $110 million to $108 million. In June, the Atlanta Falcons re-signed wide receiver Drake London , Pickens' 2022 NFL Draft classmate, to a four-year, $141.054 million extension with $99.87 million guaranteed, making him the third-highest-paid receiver in the league. Pickens, meanwhile, is locked in on the franchise tag, which will pay him $27.298 million fully guaranteed in 2026 after the Cowboys decided not to engage with him and agent David Mulugheta in long-term contract talks this offseason. That's puzzling with Pickens fresh off producing a career year with 1,429 yards receiving and 9 receiving touchdowns on 93 catches. Ranking third in the entire league in receiving yards earned the 25-year-old the first Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections (second team) of his career. Neither Flowers nor London has registered as gaudy a receiving yards total as Pickens did last season. He leads the trio in career receiving yards (4,270) and career yards per reception average (16.0), while London has the edge in career receptions (309) and a narrow lead in career receiving touchdowns (22). Pickens' 21 career receiving touchdowns are one behind his 2022 NFL Draft classmate. Translation: Pickens can now demand more money than both Flowers and London on a long-term deal with a straight face. That's a significant problem for Dallas for a multitude of reasons, despite Jerry Jones feeling like Pickens having to prove it again on the franchise tag is a win-win situation for both parties. "This can be a very win-win thing that we've done here: us, George and George being on the team," Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said at Dallas' opening training camp press conference . "Make no mistake about it: George could be a Cowboy for the rest of his career, and that would be a long time. Make no mistake about it. This [the franchise tag] just fit for us, and thank goodness it fit for him, and we got it done." The love between Pickens and Jones is mutual ... until the two sides have to sit down at the negotiating table again next offseason. "Super excited. I'm always super happy when someone thinks highly of me, so shout out to Jerry," Pickens said on July 30, via The Athletic . Games played 17* 17* 12 Catches 93* 86* 68 Receiving yards 1,429* 1,211* 919 Receiving yards per reception 15.4 14.1 13.5* Receiving TD 9* 5* 7 Pro Bowl selection Yes Yes No All-Pro selection Yes (second team) No No * Career high Waiting to extend Pickens, rather than doing so when trading for him as a somewhat distressed asset in May of 2025, has come back to bite them. The talent was always there, and in 2025, Pickens showed how prolific he can be with a quarterback of Dak Prescott's caliber, rather than the mediocre carousel of passers Pittsburgh paraded through its franchise from 2022 to 2024. Now, the Cowboys have two major contractual decisions to make that will determine Pickens' future in Dallas: paying Pickens vs. paying All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and paying Pickens vs. paying All-Pro defensive tackle Quinnen Williams . Playing the waiting game led Dallas [... truncated ...]

With Bijan Robinson's extension, Falcons' new front office did the easy stuff, now, the hard part: Quarterback

On Dec. 29, on the "Monday Night Football" national stage, Bijan Robinson took a simple handoff and ran to the right. Rams defensive back Jaylen McCollough broke through, but Robinson had already made his cut upfield, leaving McCollough desperately grasping at air. Robinson glided to the second level, squeezing past diving defensive lineman Kobie Turner and somehow keeping his balance. And then he exploded, as if the second and third levels of the defense didn't exist. Ninety-three yards to the house. One of the highlights of the season, bar none. Robinson finished the game with 229 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns, and the Falcons pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the year, 27-24, over one of the NFL's best teams. BIJAN ROBINSON 93 YARDS! LARvsATL on ESPN/ABC Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/OTqGarUX9F And yet it all felt so empty — a feeling of "what if?" Atlanta had been eliminated from playoff contention three weeks earlier, the eighth straight season the Dirty Birds failed to qualify for the postseason. All of Robinson's 2025 brilliance — an NFL-leading 2,298 yards from scrimmage and a first-team All-Pro selection —was for naught. Again. Atlanta's search for an answer at quarterback, now a half-decade old, was no closer to an end. It still isn't. Robinson signed a record-breaking three-year, $66.75 million deal Tuesday, ending his brief training camp hold-in. He is as deserving as it gets -- a true superstar at his position, only 24 years old, and only getting better. His 5,648 career yards from scrimmage are the most ever by a player 23 or younger. His signing is also the latest in what's been an expensive offseason in Atlanta. The Falcons also extended wide receiver Drake London , tight end Kyle Pitts and guard Matthew Bergeron , all of whom rank in the top five at their position in terms of average annual value (AAV). Falcons extended this offseason AAV Positional rank RB Bijan Robinson $22.25M 1st G Matthew Bergeron $24M T-1st WR Drake London $35.2M 3rd TE Kyle Pitts $17.6M 3rd This is all excellent work from the Falcons' new regime, led by franchise legend Matt Ryan , now the president of football operations, as well as GM Ian Cunningham and coach Kevin Stefanski. There was no reason to wait on these players -- all franchise cornerstones -- and watch them get more expensive. One can argue a few million dollars here or there, but there should be no major qualms. It was also easy work. Now comes the hard part: finding a quarterback to lead this talented offensive nucleus somewhere beyond the final game of the regular season. The Falcons have been the epitome of mediocrity. They've won either seven or eight games five straight years, the longest such streak since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. They had the No. 8 pick three straight years from 2022-24, which landed them London and Robinson -- home-run picks -- but also Michael Penix, which has been a crucial swing and a miss. That entire 2024 offseason, in fact, was a swing and a miss —and a devastating one at that. A bases loaded, two outs, down three, bottom-of-the-ninth strikeout. The Falcons drafted Penix a month after signing Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal, a move that blindsided Cousins , coming off a torn Achilles. "If you believe in a quarterback, you have to take him," then-GM Terry Fontenot said . "And if he sits for four or five years, that's a great problem to have because we're doing so well at that position. So, it's as simple as, if you see a guy you believe in at that position, you have to take him." It was one of the strangest reasons ever for a top-10 pick when it happened, and it looks even worse now. It's the reason Fontenot doesn't currently have a job in the NFL. Forget four or five years. Two years later, Cousins has never gotten close to his pre-Achilles self (and is now with the Raiders ), and Penix has been either injured or underwhelming over the past two years. He now finds hims [... truncated ...]

Zay Flowers, Ravens agree to four-year extension

The Ravens have locked up one of their young offensive players. Baltimore and receiver Zay Flowers have agreed to a four-year contract extension, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The deal is worth a reported $140 million, with $108 million guaranteed. Flowers’ deal puts him just behind Drake London in terms of average new money per year at $35 million. Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s contract leads the market at $42.15 million per year. The No. 22 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Flowers was already under contract through 2027 after Baltimore exercised his fifth-year option in the spring. Flowers became the first wide receiver in Ravens franchise history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in 2024. He was again selected to the Pro Bowl in 2025, having caught 86 passes for 1,211 yards with five touchdowns in 17 games. Overall, Flowers has caught 237 passes for 3,128 yards with 14 TDs in 50 games over his three seasons. He’s also registered nine receptions for 156 yards with a touchdown in two playoff games

Falcons have spent plenty on core players this year

With the new contract for running back Bijan Robinson, the Falcons have recently given big deals to four young players who have become part of the nucleus of the team. Beyond Robinson, the Falcons have extended 2021 first-round tight end Kyle Pitts (three years, $54 million), 2022 first-round receiver Drake London (four years, $141 million), and 2023 second-round guard Matthew Bergeron (four years, $96 million). While some could reasonably quibble about the value of the various contracts when considering the players’ on-field accomplishments to date (except for Robinson, who was a bargain), the new regime in Atlanta clearly regards all four players as key pieces for the present and foreseeable future. That raises a question. Who drafted those players? It was former G.M. Terry Fontenot. Although the Kirk Cousins-Michael Penix Jr. misadventure from 2024 likely doomed everyone whose fingerprints were on those bang-bang decisions that blew up for the Falcons, Fontenot clearly did his job capably when it comes to selecting players whom the Falcons have since compensated as “keepers.” The other side of the coin is the question of whether the Falcons may be overcommitting cash and cap space to Pitts, London, and Bergeron. Each contract represents a prediction that they’ll earn the money. If they do, great. If they don’t, the Falcons could end up in a cap crunch with not much to show for it. Through it all, the Falcons are close. They finished in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC South last year. If they can get consistency from the quarterback position, they could (and arguably should) win the division — especially since their new coach is a two-time coach of the year who has instantly acquired a more capable across-the-board roster than he had during his six seasons in Cleveland. And who no longer has to compete with the Ravens, Steelers, and Bengals

Bijan Robinson agrees to three-year extension with Falcons

Bijan Robinson has not been practicing at Falcons training camp amid contract negotiations, but it looks like it is time for him to get on the field. According to multiple reports, Robinson has agreed to a three-year extension in Atlanta. Robinson was under contract through 2027 with an $11.323 million salary locked in for the final year after the Falcons exercised their fifth-year option on his rookie deal. The extension is reportedly worth up to $75 million with $51 million in guaranteed money and $37 million at signing. The base value is $66.75 million, which makes Robinson the highest-paid running back in the league in average annual salary. Robinson may not remain in that spot for long, however. Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs and Colts running back Jonathan Taylor are also looking for extensions, so the picture at the top could change in the near future. Wherever Robinson winds up, the move is the latest in a series of big deals for members of the Falcons offense. Wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, and guard Matthew Bergeron have also signed long-term deals with the team this offseason

Kyle Pitts Sr. "Moving Better," Fully Healthy for 2026

Kyle Pitts Sr. is fully healthy for 2026 and has high-end TE1 potential