Drake London

USC/ WR

6’5/210 lbs (Awesome size without question)

Overall: 86

Best Landing Spots: NYJ, PHI, CHI, MIA, BUF, MIN, KC

Summary:

A captivating athlete who has elite(plus) size, some shifty route running, and a ferocious play style, Drake was an interesting tape to put on. London was not a guy I was looking to draft at all prior to watching his tape. After watching him, I have him as my WR #3 and I don’t anticipate that changing until after the draft, if ever. I will probably draft him in a couple of places.

London was a special talent at USC. As a 4 star recruit, he won 2021 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, even with missing time due to a season-ending and concerning ankle injury. He also led the Pac-12 in receptions (88,) and in receiving yards (1,081).

London is surprisingly shifty in his route running and very deceptive in his deep routes. He can create more separation than I expected he would create. He’s a tough runner who can push piles, demand multiple tacklers, and possesses decent contact balance. He has two baseball mitts for hands, which makes catching look like an effortless endeavour that he takes for granted.

Surprisingly, he has some work to do in contested catch situations. He can be late jumping and jumps into defenders, which subtracts from his mismatch advantage. If he can perfect this part of his game, he will be a force.

I’d like to see him used mainly in the tight slot, which should attract TE-like matchups. It will also highlight his blocking skills. I think he would be most effective in this role. I would also love to see him play with a guy like Allen or Mahomes, who will give him every opportunity to make plays. If all goes well I think he can be a WR 1 in the NFL, maybe even annually. I would be ok taking him after the 1.06 in SF leagues. I want both Wilson and Burks before I take London. Burks has a similar type of size and is way more explosive. Both would be ideal in the slot as well.

Route Running (RR): 7

Good snapping of hips at the top of route—creates nice separation on curl routes
Takes the correct angle in his routes in zone coverage—knows where to attack
Shows nice flashes of ability to get separation
Better intermediate to deep in RR
Absorbs contact well
Usually winds up open at some point in his route
Can turn a DB around with head fakes at the top of his route
Mainly one route speed
Explosive off of his cut foot
Can hit the brakes quickly and lose defender
Needs to get hips lower more consistently at top of the route and in and out of his breaking routes
So sneaky on long routes—little shifts in his hip and shoulders that can really fool a defender and create some space

Hands: 9

Uses those big mitts well at point of catch
Proper hand distance at point of catch
Catches away from the body
Can catch a little close to the body when blocking a defender out
Makes catching look effortless and automatic

Contested Catch Ability/Body Control: 6

Goes up and snatches the ball
Blocks out well
Has to get hands further out during contested catch situations
“MY Ball” mentality
Bad vertical which is moderately concerning
Jumps late sometimes in contested catches and he doesn’t maximise his size advantage because of it
Can catch and brace for big hits while still in the air and I feel like is evidence of at least above average body control
Makes nice late adjustments on the ball kind of like Davante Adams on those classic back shoulder balls
Can really take a lick from defenders and hold on
Can jump backwards into defenders minimizing his size and height of jump
Definitely has work to do in this department but if he puts it together he’s going to be great

RAC Ability: 5

Can be difficult to bring down if he gets up to speed
Vicious runner- gives you everything he can for yards
Nice burst for his size
Gets north and south immediately after the catch or even as he’s catching
Drops his pads really well when it’s called for
Will get dragged down from behind in the NFL

Physicality: 9

Tough football player and will beat up on undersized DB’s
May thrive in today’s NFL with some smaller DBs that are designed to cover elite speed- going to be a matchup problem
Ultra aggressive
Pile pusher
Throws his weight around

Awareness: 7

Solid scramble drill game
Doesn’t jump when it’s not needed- knows when to stay grounded
Can read and find soft spots in zones well
Makes his way back to QB well in scramble drills

Possible Roles on Offense (Versatility): 7

Good blocker out of the slot- will help snap count
Want to see him go to a team without a superb slot WR so he can move around with more ease
Going to be effective taking on a big slot role, hopefully
He runs short routes in college but I want to see him target mid to deep in the NFL
Could be an Alpha WR1 for a team
Would love to see him play a lot of tight slot, getting modern-day TE type matchups