Injuries have thinned out the Falcons’ receiver depth once again, with Darnell Mooney sidelined and no concrete return date yet from head coach Raheem Morris. That’s left Atlanta’s wideout room scrambling for answers. With players like DJ Chark, Ray-Ray McCloud, and KhaDarel Hodge getting extra reps. But amid the uncertainty, one constant has emerged… Drake London, whose role just became central to both the structure and soul of this offense.

London’s impact is structural. The 6-foot-4 wideout led the league in slot target rate among qualified receivers last season and was the sixth-most productive from that position, per Next Gen Stats. His ability to shift inside, block on the perimeter, and win 50-50 balls lets Zac Robinson vary the Falcons’ formations without substituting personnel. It’s why Kyle Smith called him a “chess piece.” Because London doesn’t just run routes; he alters matchups, forces rotations, and stabilizes both phases of the offense.

The transition from Kirk Cousins to Michael Penix Jr. is real. But London’s late-2024 connection with Penix suggested something potent in the making. 352 yards and two TDs over the final three games, translating to a record-setting pace. It’s not just box score noise either. Falcons coaches and teammates have repeatedly highlighted London’s tone-setting blocking and relentless attitude, including a viral moment this week where he bulldozed HC Raheem Morris in a practice drill. All gas, no gear-down.

That alpha mindset extends to how London sees himself. “This is an alpha WR1 kill, kill everything,” he said this week. “Even if I’m blocking, I’m going to try to kill you.”  In a now-viral clip from Falcons’ training camp, Drake was charged with energy. He was engaging in a physical rep, locking horns with defensive backs near the goal line. Then, however, Morris himself stepped forward to get a closer look at his technique.

The result? Morris, a former college safety and longtime defensive mind, went down hard, flat on his back, arms out, caught completely off guard. London, likely unaware of the full force of the hit until it was too late, continued the rep. Morris, to his credit, bounced up immediately, brushing it off with a smile and no lost tempo. Falcons’ reporter Joe Patrick shared the video on X and wrote, “Drake London getting physical with Raheem Morris in press coverage.” 

In this light, the clip of London flooring his coach isn’t comedic… It’s a symbolic of the culture Morris is trying to build. Whether Morris planned it or not, London delivered exactly the type of contact the Falcons want from their WR1.  But while Drake London’s sideline fire grabbed headlines, a far more impactful shift was happening quietly behind closed doors. One that can directly reshape the Falcons’ quarterback hierarchy.

Raheem Morris spells trouble for veteran Falcon QB Kirk Cousins

In the high-stakes NFL quarterback landscape, few moves are bigger than benching a proven veteran for an untested rookie. That’s precisely what unfolded in Atlanta as head coach Raheem Morris officially informed Kirk Cousins, the $180 million centerpiece of last year’s rebuild, that he would not be starting in Week 1 of the 2025 season. Instead, the job belongs to Michael Penix Jr. And in that moment the Falcons made one thing unmistakably clear. The future is no longer waiting.

Furthermore, the money’s tight. Cousins is owed $27.5 million in 2025, and with the Falcons eyeing a big move for Micah Parsons, clearing cap space is crucial. Trading Cousins makes sense on paper. But finding a team willing to take on that salary won’t be easy. Morris’ latest update has only added to the uncertainty.

While talking about his top two QBs seeing the pitch on day one, Morris said, “Yeah, I mean, Penix won’t get out there and Kurt won’t get out there… That’s probably the most definitive thing that I can tell you right now.” Kirk Cousins looked like a quarterback battling more than just defenders, nagged by shoulder and elbow issues and watching his hold on the starting job slip away. Meanwhile, Michael Penix Jr. continues to rise, going 7-of-11 in full-team drills, narrowly outpacing Cousins’ 7-of-12 line.

Even the running back Bijan Robinson believes that Kirk is struggling, “He was struggling to adjust.” So, it’s the fact that being QB1 in this league doesn’t come with guarantees. No matter how good your resume is. The quarterback picture in Atlanta is no longer blurry, just bold. Raheem Morris has made his call, and while Cousins watches from the sideline, Penix is being handed the keys. Ready or not, the Falcons are moving forward.