Falcons 2022 NFL Draft Rumors: Garrett Wilson, Drake London, Jameson Williams

The 2022 NFL Draft rumor mill is in full swing with the big night just days away. While teams are certainly posturing to send up smoke screens ahead of the NFL Draft, some actual intentions can be gleaned by reading the tea leaves that are NFL rumors. We’re going to combine our expert consensus first-round mock NFL Draft, the latest picks from our NFL analysts, our team needs for each NFL squad, and the latest NFL rumors to try to determine what teams will do during the 2022 NFL Draft. Below, we’ll check and see if the Falcons will attempt to find their new centerpiece at wide receiver with their early first-round pick.

2022 NFL Draft Team Needs

Andrew Erickson shares team needs for all 32 teams ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. He has the following for the Falcons:

Team Needs: WR, EDGE, OL, QB, RB

Latest 2022 NFL Draft Rumors

Marco Pavoloni (@MAPavoloni) of The Rumor Mill Mock Draft provides the latest in the world of 2022 NFL Draft rumors.

Will the Falcons start the run on receivers?

The overwhelming recent buzz leads me to believe Drake London is the player the Falcons truly covet.

Let’s explore the option in more depth:

On 4/24, Daniel Jeremiah mentioned that he would be surprised if Drake London is still there at 10th overall.

With Atlanta being the only likely team to take a WR ahead of the Jets, this seems like a suggestion that the Falcons are going to pounce on London.

From there, the London buzz has gone absolutely crazy:

On 4/25, Josh Norris tweeted, “The buzz is building for Drake London to be the first WR off the board.”

Peter King has the Falcons taking London at 8 in his final mock, and writes, “Kind of the first ‘they could do five things here’ pick. I’m going with the receiver I hear they love.”

Here’s Albert Breer’s take in his final MMQB before the draft:

“Albert Breer: A lot of people have the Falcons pegged to take a receiver here, with USC’s Drake London and Ohio State’s Garrett Wilson names to watch. It’s to the point where Atlanta is seen as the team to get in front of if you want your pick of the receiver group. London is very much seen as Arthur Smith’s type of wideout—big and tough and a strong blocker.”

And Todd McShay echoes the London love:

“It’s very possible that Atlanta focuses its attention on wide receiver, and specifically Wilson or London. I’ve heard there are people in the building who are high on London. Olamide Zaccheaus is the team’s current WR1.”

Two more for good measure:

On 4/25, Charles Robinson mentions that he believes Drake London will be the first WR off the board to the Falcons. “He is the guy they really like,” he says.

And on 4/26, Cam Marino tweeted:

“It’s the 11th hour and the #Falcons selecting #USC WR Drake London is gaining major steam in media. Take that how you wish.”

Clearly, it feels like London is in pole position to be Atlanta’s pick. But Garrett Wilson, who is mentioned in the Todd McShay quote above, is definitely in play. And so is Jameson Williams.

On 4/27, Around the NFL tweeted: “Jameson Williams, Drake London, Garrett Wilson are top three WRs in conversation for Falcons at No. 8.”

There is also plenty of smoke on Jameson Williams being the first receiver to come off the board, so you never know, but my money is on London being the choice.

Consensus First-Round NFL Mock Draft

Our consensus mock draft thinks London (28%) will be the pick at No. 8 for Atlanta, but they have Wilson at a close second (21%).

Our analysts agree on this one as they both have London to the Falcons in their final mock drafts.

Freedman’s final mock draft:

8. Atlanta Falcons: Drake London (WR – USC)
The Falcons could conceivably take a quarterback after trading franchise mainstay Matt Ryan to the Colts, but wide receiver is a bigger need given that Calvin Ridley (suspension) will be unavailable for 2022.

With his production (88-1,084-7 receiving in eight games last year) and size (6-4 and 219 pounds), London has the potential to be a Mike Williams-esque downfield dominator on the perimeter.

Erickson’s final mock draft.

8. ATLANTA FALCONS: Drake London (WR – USC)
London met with the Falcons at the Combine and is a logical fit for a team that has Auden Tate slated as the top WR on its depth chart. The Falcons are looking toward the future beyond 2023, which allows them the luxury to ease London back into football coming off a mid-season ankle injury that prevented him from fully testing at the NFL combine.

https://twitter.com/mikerothstein/status/1519044522969337856

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot comes from a Saints organization under Mickey Loomis that had zero issues investing high-end draft capital in wide receivers. Also worth mentioning that London measuring at 6-foot-3 and 219 pounds aligns with the big-bodied profile that many Falcons coaches/executives prefer on offense.

Fontenot saw first hand a 6-foot-3 Michael Thomas be the best WR in the NFL despite a 4.57 40-yard dash.

Arthur Smith orchestrated an offense in Tennessee that was led by two wide receivers — Corey Davis and A.J. Brown — who both offer size and YAC-ability similar to London.

And as the cherry on top, I did some real digging to find a past quote from Kyle Smith — current VP of player personnel for the Falcons and Terry Fontenot’s new right-hand man.

While in Washington in the same role, Smith mentioned that you want to have a basketball-type lineup at WR. London was on the USC basketball team as a freshman before fully committing to football.

https://twitter.com/AndrewErickson_/status/1519327449003270151

London is +125 to be a top-10 pick and to be the second WR selected. He’s +250 to be WR1 off the board.

FantasyPros Mock Drafts

Andrew Erickson:

Matthew Freedman:

Version 1: Post-free agency
Version 2: Post-Eagles & Saints trade
Version 3: Mid-April
Version 4: 10 days away
Version 5: Seven days away
Version 6: Week of the Draft
Version 7: Day Before the Draft

Derek Brown:

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