The Falcoholic
The starting trio is quality, but questions linger after that.
The Atlanta Falcons have been blessed with some terrific receivers over the years, and they’ve got a quality group in the here and now. Between Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Ray-Ray McCloud, Michael Penix will not lack for capable targets to throw to, and that’s before you add Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson into the mix.
While the position is settled at the top and there are a pair of reserves all but certain to make the roster if they’re healthy, there’s room for one young player who can contribute at receiver and potentially push his way into a more major role down the line. The question is who will take that slot, given that there are many players jockeying for it, and who will have to settle for the practice squad or no spot at all.
Here’s a look at the position as training camp looms.
Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud
London is quietly a pretty great player already, and the rapport he forged with Michael Penix last year took his game to new heights in the final few weeks of the season. He’s locked in as the team’s top option and is lethal down the sideline and over the middle of the field, with the ability to win contested catch situations and put defenders in the dirt. He’ll lead the team in receiving this season easily, assuming good health.
Mooney’s a dangerous downfield threat who now gets to work with a quarterback who can and will air it out. His 2024 season was excellent when he was healthy, and more consistency under center ought to help him reach or exceed last year’s numbers. The fact that there are so many dangerous players around him means the Falcons can and should find ways to use him on screens and shorter routes and count on blocking and his speed to turn those modest initial gains into long ones.
McCloud, meanwhile, was a bit of a revelation in his own right. A lightly used runner and receiver through most of his career, McCloud took the slot receiver role and put together a career year that saw him nearly triple his career high in receiving yards. On intermediate routes and especially over the middle, where he showed toughness and quality hands, McCloud was a godsend for Kirk Cousins in particular. He may struggle to reach those heights again in 2025 with so many mouths to feed, but he’s a tough and useful player who is locked into that role again. The fact that he was a strong kick returner only helps his case.
KhaDarel Hodge, Jamal Agnew
Hodge is awesome. A big play machine on special teams, he’s also able to make the occasional impact as a receiver, offering enough straight line speed and wiggle to serve as a yards-after-the catch threat. That plus his underrated blocking skills make him an absolute lock for a roster...
