Drake London's size has been much ballyhooed as the Atlanta Falcons new receiver has made the transition from USC to the NFL in preparation for the 2022 season. But, it's the rookie's speed that's caught Dave Archer's eyes in training camp.
Archer, color analyst for the Atlanta Falcons Radio Network and former Falcons quarterback, praised London's short-area quickness on The Steakhouse Wednesday saying it was better than expected "for a big dude." But the top-end speed, particulary in pads, has opened Archer's eyes.
"He's got more top-end speed than he was given credit for," said Archer. "You see a guy and he ran a 4.5 or whatever it was at the combine and you think that's kind of pedestrian when you have guys that are running 4.3. Then all the sudden you find out at 6-5 with the pads on he's still 4.5. Cause there's guys that'll run 4.3 with the underwear on and then you put the pads on them and all the suddden they're 4.5 or 4.55."
There's no slowdown, apparently, for London.
"This dude doesn't lose any speed, and his short-area quickness is better and he's got such great size and leverage to get guys off of him," the former QB stated. "He plays with great strength at the receiver position, too, which I think gets undersold."
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The combination of size, strength, and speed is going to wreak havoc on third downs and in the red zone.
"Now you have matchup issues with size with he, [Bryan] Edwards, and [Kyle] Pitts," Archer said. "You got guys who are 6-3 or better that you can throw those goalpost throws and have guys go get it."