Former Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White weighs in on team's receivers.
Former Atlanta Falcons WR Roddy White weighs in on team's receivers.
The overwhelming majority of questions surrounding the Atlanta Falcons for the 2025 NFL season are on the defensive side of the ball. But, don’t sell the offense short, they still have plenty of concerns as well.
First and foremost is obviously quarterback Michael Penix, Jr., who is entering his first year as the starter after being drafted No. 8 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. He has some good receiving options such as Drake London and potentially tight end Kyle Pitts, and former Falcons wide receiver Roddy White recently went on 680 The Fan to offer his thoughts.
“I think, I think our core is really good. I think we got a lot of people that complement each other, you know, a lot of things that they do well, and I think Drake is doing an excellent job of just being him,” White said. “You know, catching the football, moving the chains, catching deep balls when he has to.”
And, Penix agrees with White on London’s potential.
“Drake’s obviously a baller,” Penix said recently. “He’s somebody that’s going to get the ball a lot this year. He did last year as well. We’re definitely going to find ways to make sure he has a great season this year. He’s deserving of it. He puts in the work each and every day at practice, not just on game days. He takes every route serious, and that’s what you appreciate as a quarterback in your receivers going 100% all the time.”
The sky is the limit for London this year
London was a first-round pick in 2022 and finally broke out last season with 100 catches for 1,271 yards and nine touchdowns. Based on his few games with Penix last season, Arkesh Ray of Sports Illustrated thinks he could improve on those numbers in 2025.
“In his three games with Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback, London had 22 catches, 352 yards (including a career high of 189 yards against the Panthers), and two touchdowns,” Ray writes. “Extrapolated across a full 17-game season, that would amount to 125 catches, 1,944 yards, and 11 touchdowns.”
Extremely high expectations for sure, but anything is achievable.
White thinks Pitts and Mooney will contribute
Wide receiver Darnell Mooney produced in his only year with the Falcons last season and he could be a player to watch. He’s a little bit under the radar, but he did haul in 64 catches for 992 yards and five touchdowns in 2024.
White thinks he can be a contributor to the offense this season and really help out Penix.
“And you know, Mooney has done a really good job just being explosive,” White continued. “You know, creating explosive plays for the offense, which he does very, very well. And then you know, I just want to see a little bit more out of Kyle [Pitts], because you know if he gets going and he’s just able to get out there and make plays, it will just take our offense to another level.”
If you haven’t actually watched Mooney play, it’s worth it. He is extremely dynamic. As for Pitts, who knows what the Falcons will get out of him this year. An NFL player agent told Heavy’s Matt Lombardo recently perhaps all Falcons fans need to know.
“He looks like he doesn’t care,” the agent said. “He’s a tremendous athlete, but a below-average tight end. If he doesn’t win with athleticism, he’s not a savvy route runner who can get open at the top of his routes. He brings next to nothing to the run game.”