Ian Cunningham sat at a table inside a closed restaurant at The Biltmore Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona. It was late March, right after the first wave of free agency and before the NFL draft came fully into focus.
The new Atlanta Falcons general manager was asked about the team's star wide receiver Drake London, who he had yet to actually meet in person at the time.
"I remember evaluating him at USC coming out [of college], and what we thought of him then he's already showcased in the NFL," Cunningham said. "Just his ability to high-point balls, the tenacity and personality he plays with on the field. I feel like if I were a teammate of his, I would like playing with him."
Did that mean an extension for London was a high-priority item this offseason as he was heading into the fifth-year-option year on his rookie contract?
"I think it's on top of mind," Cunningham said then.
Cunningham was somewhat coy, wanting to focus the conversation more on the upcoming draft. But keeping London in Atlanta was probably an easy decision -- the first big one on a lengthy checklist for the new regime.
The Falcons signed London to a four-year, $141 million extension Tuesday. The deal could go up to $150 million with incentives and London will make $100 million guaranteed. He is now the third-highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL in terms of annual average salary ($35.25 million).
That might sound like a lot of money for a wide receiver who has had only a single season with more than 1,000 yards receiving. In reality, London is only 24 years old, one of the team's emotional leaders and has not yet experienced consistent quarterback play in Atlanta. In 2024, he was one of the league's most productive wideouts.
With the way receiver dollars have grown exponentially over the past few years, this will probably look like a steal by the back half of the contract.
With London now on the books long term, the Falcons will turn their focus to another young star skill player: 24-year-old running back Bijan Robinson. He could command the highest salary at his position in the league and rightfully so. Robinson led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,298) in 2025. Robinson is heading into his fourth season and the Falcons already picked up his fifth-year option for 2027. An extension seems likely.
No one was sure exactly how this offseason would play out with a new front office (led by Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan) and new coaching staff (led by head coach Kevin Stefanski). London and Robinson are stars but were both selected No. 8 overall in the draft by the previous brain trust, general manager Terry Fontenot and his group.
There are never any guarantees following an overhaul like the Falcons made over the past few months. But extending London indicates that Ryan, Cunningham, Stefanski and company will be building the offense around him and Robinson for the foreseeable future. Plus, the Falcons made only incremental, short-term signings in free agency. The only non-specialist to get more than a one-year contract was wide receiver Jahan Dotson, who is 26 years old.
A decision still needs to be made about tight end Kyle Pitts Sr., the No. 4 pick in 2021. He has shown major upside, but has been inconsistent. Pitts will play this season on the franchise tag. It appears like the new Falcons regime will evaluate him in a new scheme in 2026 before determining what to do next.
Atlanta will probably address an aging offensive line next offseason. And, most importantly, a franchise quarterback still needs to take shape. Perhaps that could be Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. But Tagovailoa is only making $1.3 million this season and will be a free agent next offseason. If he wins the starting job and has a great 2026, he would need to get paid significantly for 2027 and beyond. Would that be a gamble Atlanta would want to take?
All of that is hypothetical right now.
The one thing we do know: After Tuesday's big extension news, these Falcons decision-makers are not going to blow this roster up completely. They are going to keep London and likely Robinson and have them be their offensive core -- for years to come.
