When it comes to big-money contracts in recent years, the Atlanta Falcons have had their share of difficulties. The Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed in the spring of 2024 and are desperately looking to dump that deal one year later. Atlanta also has a talented young nucleus, but many of those players will be looking for their own bags in the next couple of seasons.
One of those players is wide receiver Drake London. The eighth-overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, London became a pillar of the Falcons by catching 100 passes for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns last season and is eligible for a contract extension. But one of the players in his draft class was handsomely rewarded and may have screwed the Falcons over as they look to keep London in Atlanta.
Garrett Wilson’s New Contract Makes Drake London’s Falcons Future Complicated
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the New York Jets and Garrett Wilson have agreed on a four-year, $130 million contract extension that includes $90 million guaranteed. A player with 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons, Wilson, who was taken two picks after London in the 2022 draft, has a right to get paid. But it also could put dollar signs in the star Falcons’ receiver’s eyes as he looks to get a lucrative contract of his own.
ESPN sources: Jets and wide receiver Garrett Wilson reached agreement on a four-year, $130 million contract extension that includes $90 million guaranteed. It marks the first time in NFL history that a receiver has received an average over $31 million after playing only three… pic.twitter.com/eGynmv7JwN
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 14, 2025
London has gotten off to a solid start with the Falcons, catching 241 passes for 3,042 yards and 15 touchdowns over his first three seasons. While it took him until Year 3 to reach the 1,000-yard mark, he was also held down by the poor quarterback play of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke as well as the unimaginative play-calling of former head coach Arthur Smith.
Cousins’ arrival sparked a breakout season, and things could get better as Michael Penix Jr. takes over this year. While London doesn’t have the gaudy stats that Wilson put up, the secondary note on Schefter’s tweet could be a key negotiation point on his next contract.
Wilson is the first receiver to receive over $31 million annually after playing just three seasons in the league. While stars like Justin Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb have tried to get a similar amount, both players needed a fourth big season to secure contracts with an annual average value of $35 million and $34 million, respectively. Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase also complicated the market by signing a deal with a $40.25 million AAV last spring.
London is on track to be the next receiver to reach those numbers. If Penix has a successful transition to becoming a full-time starter, London could be a prime beneficiary at age 24. A massive season could have the price go up, which is a problem for a Falcons team that currently has $362k in cap space for 2026, according to Over The Cap.
The good news is that London’s contract won’t kick in until 2027, when the Falcons have a projected $122 million in cap room. But that number is deceiving, with Bijan Robinson and Penix needing big contracts down the road.
If all three reach their ceiling, it could be a good problem to have. But you couldn’t blame the Falcons if they have sticker shock as they look to lock up their top target.