NFL
By: Jalen Willingham
Drake London of the Atlanta Falcons was recently ranked 97th on the annual NFL Top 100 players list. This marks his first appearance on the ranking. Is 97th doing him any justice though?
NFL Top 100 Players of 2025:@AtlantaFalcons WR Drake London checks in at No. 97! @NFLFilms pic.twitter.com/sFY4Bbjuwq
— NFL (@NFL) July 1, 2025
2024 Recap
The soon to be 24-year old receiver is coming off of his best season as a pro. In 2024, London finished with 100 receptions, 1,271 yards, and nine touchdowns. This put him fourth in yards and ninth in touchdowns and receptions. Despite missing the Pro Bowl, he absolutely put the league on notice.
With shaky quarterback play, Drake London made it clear that he can be the true no. 1 receiver in Atlanta. The connection between London and second year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. should look to only improve from here. It’s safe to expect more 1,000 yard seasons from the young star going forward.
The NFL Top 100
The NFL Top 100 list are voted on by the players each year. Even then, there continues to be many rankings that you wouldn’t normally expect. A lot of it still fits the mold. Last season, only three falcons made the list. This year, it’s safe to expect four at most between London, Jessie Bates, Chris Lindstrom and Bijan Robinson. KhaDarel Hodge (special teams) and Chris Lindstrom (right guard) were the team’s only true Pro Bowlers in 2024. Running back Bijan Robinson, safety Jessie Bates and kicker Younghoe Koo were Pro Bowl alternates.
Reaction to the Ranking
There are many fans, not just falcons fans either, who believe that Drake London should be ranked higher. Some have even went as far as to call the ranking disrespectful. One falcon fan on reddit specifically said London should’ve been at least in the 60’s or 70’s in the top 100 ranking. Fans were even more outraged finding out that Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made the list and was rated higher than London as well.
It has long been discussed how these rankings, much like the pro bowl, are often more so a popularity contest rather than who really is the best in the game.
The first 10 players have been revealed on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025.
Check out players 100-91. (THREAD ⬇️) pic.twitter.com/hfGFfWSvXi
— NFL (@NFL) July 4, 2025
Looking Ahead
It may seem like London is finally living up to being selected eighth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Many people eventually wrote him off as being a WR2 at best and not someone with true WR1 potential. His recent work on the field says otherwise.
Atlanta is in a great position to succeed in 2025. With talent, size, and growing chemistry in the Falcons offense, Drake London’s No. 97 spot could be just the beginning. Sustained consistency will cause more and more people across the league to respect the talent that Atlanta knows they have in Drake London. If his upward trajectory continues, it won’t be long before he’s competing for a place among the NFL’s elite.
