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Last week, the Atlanta Falcons locked up one of their most-important assets. Star wide receiver Drake London signed a huge new four-year contract worth a total of $141 million, including $100 million guaranteed.
That may sound like a whole lot of money for a player who has yet to make a Pro Bowl team, but it's a worthy investment for the Falcons. London has been consistently productive since he was drafted and was on pace for a career-best year last season before he got injured.
One analyst who isn't sweating the megadeal is former NFL cornerback Darius Butler, who appeared on the Pat McAfee show and called the move a no-brainer for the Falcons.
"Lock him up, pay him," said Butler. "This is a no-brainer to lock him up. He falls now as the 3rd-highest-paid wide receiver... He's earned it. He's been dominant. He can play on the outside. For a big guy, He plays a lot on the inside as well, which is a walking matchup problem. You have Bijan Robinson in the backfield, who's also a matchup problem as well. So whoever ends up winning that starting quarterback role, this is a guy you had to have out there."
London's contract ranks him third in the league in wide receiver compensation per year, putting him just ahead of Justin Jefferson. While London is not the third-best receiver in the NFL just yet, keep in mind that the Falcons are paying for future production. London is still only 24 years old and has all the tools he needs to average 1,000+ yards and 10 touchdowns per season during his prime years.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Darius Butler says Drake London has earned his massive new contract
Continue reading...
That may sound like a whole lot of money for a player who has yet to make a Pro Bowl team, but it's a worthy investment for the Falcons. London has been consistently productive since he was drafted and was on pace for a career-best year last season before he got injured.
One analyst who isn't sweating the megadeal is former NFL cornerback Darius Butler, who appeared on the Pat McAfee show and called the move a no-brainer for the Falcons.
"Lock him up, pay him," said Butler. "This is a no-brainer to lock him up. He falls now as the 3rd-highest-paid wide receiver... He's earned it. He's been dominant. He can play on the outside. For a big guy, He plays a lot on the inside as well, which is a walking matchup problem. You have Bijan Robinson in the backfield, who's also a matchup problem as well. So whoever ends up winning that starting quarterback role, this is a guy you had to have out there."
London's contract ranks him third in the league in wide receiver compensation per year, putting him just ahead of Justin Jefferson. While London is not the third-best receiver in the NFL just yet, keep in mind that the Falcons are paying for future production. London is still only 24 years old and has all the tools he needs to average 1,000+ yards and 10 touchdowns per season during his prime years.
This article originally appeared on Falcons Wire: Darius Butler says Drake London has earned his massive new contract
Continue reading...
