The Falcons have invested three top 10 picks in skill position players, making Kyle Pitts the highest-drafted tight end in history, followed by Drake London and Bijan Robinson in the drafts after.
Pitts experienced the most fruitful rookie campaign out of the bunch, but much of that had to do with the quarterback. Drake London has caught passes from Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder, and Taylor Heinicke, while Pitts entered the league with Matt Ryan.
Granted, Ryan was in the twilight years of his career, but he was still more effective passing than Mariota, Ridder, and Heinicke. That’s why there’s so much buzz around Flowery Branch.
Robinson, London, and Pitts are expected to have big 2024 campaigns because the Falcons went out and finally invested in the quarterback position, giving Kirk Cousins $180 million in free agency.
The Falcons finally have a competent quarterback in the building, and it should benefit nobody more than Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. That’s why CBS Sports has the QB-WR duo ranked third among new pairings, behind C.J. Stroud and Stefon Diggs as well as Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Cousins helped Jefferson and Jordan Addison put up prolific campaigns, which is what the Atlanta Falcons are hoping happens with London and Kyle Pitts. The former No. 8 overall pick caught 69 passes for a career-high 905 yards and two touchdowns last season. London has great size and turns 23 next month, so he’s someone who is definitely primed for a big year with the quarterback change.
The projected stat line for Drake London would have the Falcons 2022 first-round pick set career marks in every receiving category with 85 receptions, 1,214 yards, and 6 touchdowns.
Nobody should be surprised if all three former top 10 picks set career highs if Kirk Cousins is healthy. The new Falcons quarterback was amid a career year last season before going down with an Achilles injury. If he can return to that level of play in Atlanta, the Falcons trio of young stars will surely be in the conversation for a lot of accolades.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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