Drake London Selected No. 8 Overall by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL Draft

Wide receiver Drake London became the 84th USC Trojans to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft as he went No. 8 overall to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night.

London becomes the highest-selected USC wide receiver since Keyshawn Johnson was selected No. 1 overall by the New York Jets in the 1996 draft. He was also the first wide receiver selected and just the third offensive player — and first offensive skill player — taken in the draft.

London’s selection this high in the draft comes as no surprise. He turned in one of the great three-year careers in USC history, despite playing in only six games as a sophomore and eight as a junior.

In 2021, London put together a phenomenal eight-game run that saw him catch 88 passes for 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns. The 88 receptions tied Michael Crabtree for the most by a Power 5 receiver in his team’s first eight games. London easily would have set that record had he not suffered a fractured ankle while catching a touchdown pass at the end of the first half.

The 6-foot-4, 219-pound receiver was on pace to set USC single-season records for receptions and receiving yards before the injury. He dominated opposing cornerbacks before and after the catch last season. London won with quickness and power off the line as well as in the air down the field. Opposing defenses knew London would be targetted constantly during games and shifted coverage to him. He still became the only USC wide receiver to ever post three games with 13 or more receptions.

In the five-game stretch between the Washington State and Notre Dame games, London averaged 12.6 receptions for 159.6 yards. London was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year despite playing in just eight games last season.

London Battles Back From Injury

London received an invite to the NFL Combine in early March but did not participate in any drills. He then took part in an individual pro day at USC earlier this month. That one was pushed back from his initial date of April 5 due to a hamstring strain.

There, London ran some routes while catching passes from quarterback trainer Jordan Palmer. But London again did not test.

The lack of quantifiable speed and timed runs did not scare off NFL teams. London was considered a first-round pick during early mock drafts for 2022 and never fell out of that round. Expectations will be high for London to contribute early in his NFL career, given this draft slot.

USC’s Recent Wide Receiver Draft History

This is the third-straight year USC has had a wide receiver selected in the draft. Amon-Ra St. Brown was taken by the Detroit Lions with the seventh pick of the fourth round in 2021. Michael Pittman Jr. was taken by the Indianapolis Colts with the second pick of the second round in 2020.

Both receivers are off to terrific starts in their NFL careers.

St. Brown caught 90 passes for 912 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie, adding 61 rushing yards and a score on the ground.

In Year 2, Pittman posted nearly identical receiving stats to London last year. Pittman finished his second year with the Colts with 88 receptions for 1,082 yards and six touchdowns.

London’s Fit In Atlanta

The Falcons have a major need at wide receiver and London will be called upon to produce as a rookie. Atlanta receiver Calvin Ridley is suspended for at least this entire 2022 season after gambling on games in 2021.

The duo of London and tight end Kyle Pitts is a very intriguing pair of big receivers and the Falcons should be able to find plenty of ways to get them both involved in the offense. Pitts led the team in receptions and receiving yards last season, with 68 catches for 1,026 yards.