The ever-evolving story of the Patriots finally landing their next top wide receiver continues into the second week of free agency with no end in sight. Rumors suggest they're waiting until June 1 to officially trade for AJ Brown, as insiders believe that's when the Eagles will be willing to move on from him, but there's a chance Mike Vrabel and Co. won't want to wait that long to add the talent their offense needs.
Because it appears they'll need to trade for that caliber player, they'll have to shift their focus to other options who might become available. It's a bit scarce at this point, especially after Jaylen Waddle was traded by the Dolphins to the Broncos.
But there is a new name that is starting to make waves online, mostly because extension talks between him and the Falcons are stalling.
If there are concerns about waiting for Brown to become available, and if the Eagles will even be willing to move him, on top of worries regarding his injury history and age, then there are plenty of reasons for the Patriots to look into a guy like Falcons' star Drake London.
They got a first-hand look at the superstar talent during their matchup last year, and London absolutely blew past the Patriots' defense in a way more experienced receivers couldn't. So if extension talks continue to fizzle, there might be a chance Atlanta could trade him.
If the Falcons blow their chance to extend Drake London, the Patriots should pounce to get their next WR1
Although they're hoping to reach an extension with their 2022 first-round draft pick, there's a chance that things won't progress between Atlanta and London. If that's the inevitable future, the Patriots need to get on the phone and inquire about the budding superstar.
He is entering his fifth season with the Falcons and has already put together an impressive resume despite the revolving door of quarterbacks he's had to work with. He's already reached 1,000+ receiving yards in a season (2024), and since entering the league four years ago, he has recorded 309 receptions for 3,961 yards and 22 touchdowns.
Just last season, he logged 919 yards and seven scores in just 12 games, so you can only imagine what his stat line would have looked like had he not missed five games.
That's the kind of explosive player the Patriots need on their offense, and London checks nearly every box of a player Mike Vrabel wants on the team. Not only is he just 24 years old and could team up with Maye for years to come, but he's also a capable WR1 that the roster has been lacking.
They'd have to give up a first-round pick to get him, but if they're willing to do that for a older player like Brown, there's no reason to pass on the chance to do so for someone like London. And it might be more worth the investment.
If anything, they need to pay close attention to what's going on in Atlanta and take any opportunity to strike if London becomes available. They can't let another opportunity for a high-caliber receiver pass them by, or the receiving corps is going to be in worse shape in 2026 than it was last season.