The Atlanta Falcons spent the 2025 NFL Draft addressing their needs on the defensive side of the ball. After being a below-average defensive team for a seventh-straight season, the Falcons decided to use all their resources on upgrading their defense, aggressively pursuing two of the top pass rushers in the draft class.
Now that the draft is officially in the books, the Falcons have turned their attention to the rest of their offseason decisions. One of the most pressing of them is the fifth-year option for star wide receiver Drake London.
Heading into the fourth year of his rookie deal, London has a fifth-year option that Atlanta can choose to exercise. With the deadline for that decision looming, GM Terry Fontenot declined to comment on the team's plans, per The Athletic's Josh Kendall.
Terry Fontenot declined comment on Drake London's upcoming fifth-year option decision but said this: "You know how we feel about Drake. He’s a stud. He’s everything we’re about. He will do anything he can to rip your face off and win the game. That’s who he is and what we want."
— Josh Kendall (@JoshTheAthletic) April 26, 2025
Uncertainty Surrounding Drake London's Future Remains Despite Fontenot's Comments
Even though he was non-committal about the decision, Fontenot was very complimentary of London. The former first-round pick is coming off his career season, finishing with 100 catches, 1271 yards, and nine touchdowns, while emerging as a leader on the field. Fontenot highlighted what makes the 23-year-old special and how he fits into this team.
While that is promising for London's future in Atlanta, the lack of clear commitment from the Falcons' GM is confusing.
Atlanta has until May 1 to pick up London's fifth-year option. The team can either exercise this and work on a long-term deal next offseason, or get the contract extension out of the way immediately.
The contracts for elite pass-catchers are surging, and the longer the Falcons wait, the more expensive London's next deal will be.
London's fifth-year option is for $17 million in the 2026 season. If he makes the Pro Bowl, that will jump to $23 million. By signing the former USC standout to an extension a year early, the Falcons could not only get themselves a discount, but they would also avoid a potential standoff next offseason. Whether the sides can come to an agreement soon will be one of the more important storylines remaining in the Falcons offseason.