Falcons rookie Drake London a ‘shiftier version of Mike Evans’

“He’s a subtle, stay-out-of-the-way type of guy, and I respect that. On the field, man, he really pops out at you,” said Bryan Edwards. “He moves really well in and out of breaks for a bigger receiver. He’s very shifty. He kind of reminds me of a shiftier version of Mike Evans down there in Tampa Bay. Much respect to that kid. I can’t wait to see him grow and blossom into the great player I know he’s going to be.”

Now, that is some incredible praise. Mike Evans is a four-time Pro Bowler and has never totaled less than 1,000 receiving yards in his eight NFL seasons… Let me say that again. In eight years, Evans has never recorded fewer than 1,000 yards, even during his rookie season. Those are some lofty expectations for London.

However, it isn’t the first person to praise London. Jordan Palmer, brother of Carson, had nothing but great things to say about the rookie.

“One hundred percent,” Palmer said to Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “I like Drake London as an NFL receiver, his catch radius, (his ability to) go up and get it. You are creating other places to throw. That guy might look covered, but he’s not covered if I throw it here. That fits really well with what Desmond did in college.”

“It’s the way that Drake plays above 7 feet off the ground, it’s wingspan, it’s also jumping ability, hand-eye coordination and his ability to adjust, those things, those are easy throws to get good at making for any quarterback,” Palmer continued. “Drake’s ability to go up and get it, to catch the ball away from his body, to catch the ball in traffic, is the first thing that jumps out to me.”