"I grew up a Lions' fan": Falcons' Drake London reveals childhood loyalty on Amon-Ra St. Brown's podcast

Drake London is enjoying another great season with the Atlanta Falcons. The first-round pick from the 2022 NFL draft already has 649 receiving yards this season, and is on pace to break the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his career. A fine contract extension is coming his way.

The Atlanta Falcons have no reason to deal him to another franchise, as he's their leading wide receiver and has progressed every season that he's been in the league. But if London's childhood team had drafted him, he would've been in the biggest contender in the NFC North.

Appearing on the "St. Brown" podcast, which is produced by wide receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions) and Equanimeous St. Brown (New Orleans Saints), London confessed that, when he was a child, his favorite team was the Detroit Lions:

London was the eighth overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Detroit's first pick in that recruitment was Pro Bowl DE Aidan Hutchinson (second overall) and they took a wide receiver, Jameson Williams, with the 12th overall pick.

Drake London and Darnell Mooney: Falcons duo exceeding expectations in the 2024 season

This was one of the most exciting seasons for Atlanta in a long time. After three straight years with Arthur Smith leading the team to a 7-10 record, signing Kirk Cousins in free agency to a four-year, $180 million deal was supposed to reignite hope to a fan base that hasn't seen a playoff game since 2017.

And that's exactly what has happened. Cousins has a 68.2% completion percentage, 17 touchdowns and just 8 interceptions in 2024. He's a sensible upgrade over quarterbacks from the past two years, including Desmond Ridder, Marcus Mariota and Taylor Heinicke. None of those three are starters in the NFL during the 2024 season.

London is the undisputed WR1, but curiously, Darnell Mooney has more yards in 2024, with 684. The former Chicago Bears player does not have to deal with double coverage as his teammate does, and also does not align as the X receiver in man-to-man matchups. They both complement each other and Atlanta, sitting with a 6-4 record, is leading the division.