Crabtree was the star wide receiver at Texas Tech in 2007-08 when he tallied 231 catches for 3,127 yards and 41 touchdowns over two seasons before leaving as a first round NFL draft pick. Reviewing some Drake London film before the show tonight.The myth that he cant separate is a wild one. cyd9KTt2YXIgZj1kLmdldEVsZW1lbnRzQnlUYWdOYW1lKHMpWzBdLAogICAg He will need to be technically perfect in the NFL to compensate for lesser speed or suddenness, but there is nothing about his track record to suggest he wont eventually be a contributor in an NFL offense. Although I believe he has the skills to be considered a true WR1 at the next level, there will be some elements of his scouting report that limit his stock. During his USC career, the impressive WR prospect has also demonstrated great ball-tracking ability. Tracks the pass in the air, gets vertical, and high-points the ball over defenders. Although he has yet to be able to test, London is still earning first-round attention in the 2022 NFL Draft. For all his athletic gifts, the USC WR isnt blessed with long speed. Where he can improve: Dotsons game is very much below the rim. Were getting ahead of ourselves a little. With 33 arms, London has long levers which enable him to pluck the ball effortlessly out of the sky. London is fluid and very smooth. I dont care how fast he is, I wouldnt be against him because his ball skills are really special. Both the scouting reports and his comp set indicate that London is a talented 50/50 ballplayer who should find instant success in such situations. While London didnt finish the 2021 season, he still finished - 2018 PrepStar All-American and All-Camino League Co-Wide Receiver of the Year as a senior. Drake London, USC. There are several skills to look for in a wide receiver. Drake Londons production soared as he took on greater responsibility on the outside. On the Falcons opening drive of the preseason, rookie wide receiver Drake London had a 24-yard catch before leaving the game with a knee injury. Please consider using one of our preferred browsers to enjoy an optimal experience. But, NFL teams are probably going to want to see some reassurance, medical and performance-wise, in order to confirm their grading. Drake London makes key catch leading to a Trojans field goal and 3-0 lead. Theyve done a phenomenal job of setting the standard in that room and what its supposed to look like. Harrell was the quarterback those two seasons, and Doege was a redshirt QB in 2008 who worked with Crabtree in practice. What he does well: Treylon Burks was a big play machine for the Razorbacks this season. So theyre having to learn three positions, whether it be the two inside positions or the tight end spot, which we call the H spot. What he does well: In terms of pure deep threat, Jameson Williams is the best in the class. Drake London, USC. Did Mike Evans fall off the age cliff last year or, at the very least, begin his descent? There are two themes to Drake Londons career at USC. A daily roundup of all your Philadelphia Eagles news from Bleeding Green Nation, By submitting your email, you agree to our, NFL Draft Prospect Rankings: Wide Receiver, Nick Sirianni talks new Eagles coordinators, doesnt know if Dennard Wilson will be back. What he does well: Christian Watsons athleticism is incredibly surprising given his size. TheMike Williams comp we see from the scouts doesnt really hold up here because of the differences in age and experience (Williams was a four-year player and nearly two years older than London), but there are other WRs known for their contested-catch ability on this list:DeVante Parker, DeAndre Hopkins, andDavante Adams are all players many would say thrive in such situations. WebGet instant advice on your decision to draft Drake London or Mike Evans in 2023. That being said, here are the ten best receivers in the class, what they do well, what they can improve on, and their pro-comparison. NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Overall, some will have concern with his lack of top speed, but he reminds me ofMike Williamscoming out of Clemson. No, I'm a California resident looking for the California Consumer Privacy Act form. JyZndG1fcHJldmlldz0nKydlbnYtMScrJyZndG1fY29va2llc193aW49eCc7 Please update it here. newsletter. Ridder did fumble it three times but also finished with an even 2-2 record. He has a great feel in space, especially at the receiver position when we put him in the slot. Hes quite a bit lighter Lots of guys getting lots of reps, getting a lot better. Skipping the athletic measurables hasnt hurt his draft stock through the process unless mock draft analysts dont have a grasp on the real sentiments of NFL front offices. Calvin Austin III is next in line after the Tigers have sent Tony Pollard, Antonio Gibson and Kenneth Gainwell to the NFL. Comparing current NFL draft prospects to those of years past is standard procedure in draft evaluation, though most comparisons are built on the memory recall and subjective opinion of the particular evaluator. So you just gotta give him some grace. Looking at WR-needy NFL teams who realistically could take a WR in the first round, we can start to speculate which team will select London along with where would be the best fit. I feel really good about the room and where were going, and well find two guys that can do it, for sure. he is the premier contested-catch receiver ahead of the 2022 Draft. Evans finished 17th in raw target volume but 37th in target share (19.7%). "I tell Graham this all the time, and obviously Graham and I are the only ones who can really relate to this because we've seen it in person, but Drake London really reminds me of Michael Crabtree when he's on the outside. What he does well: David Bell is just about as polished and well rounded a receiver in this class. In Weeks 13-18, he was the WR20 in fantasy, even though he failed to score a touchdown in this span. Right now, though, it makes sense to at least see what London looks like in one of those outside roles. London did not participate in any of the athletic testing at the NFL Combine, but he weighed in at 219 pounds after being listed at 210 The beautiful thing about this comps process is it often reveals players who are similar stylistically simply by observing the data. His awareness of the optimal areas to move into maximise his availability as an open receiver. The following chart (via ETR) shows Londons closest comparable WRs from past drafts: As you can see, based on this type of analysis, London is in good company with the two closest comps being Mike Evans and Titans WR A.J. I found the closest statistically comparable players by the Euclidean distance between the players' principle components, listed in the top 10 below. Round 1. KCJzY3JpcHQiKVswXTsgcy5hc3luYyA9IHRydWU7CiAgICAvLyBsb2FkaW5n he is the premier contested-catch receiver ahead of the 2022 Draft. X2Nvb2tpZXNfd2luPXgnIHN0eWxlPSdkaXNwbGF5Om5vbmU7dmlzaWJpbGl0 London was lauded for his athletic ability in high school, and this is one of the more surprising elements of his game. USCs Drake London is at the top of the pile in terms of being one of the best pass-catching prospects coming out of College Football this year. Unlock all tools and content including Player Grades, Fantasy, NFL Draft, Premium Stats, Greenline and DFS. Smart, knows where he is on the field, and plays like a good athlete. With St. Brown headed to the NFL, London had the opportunity to lead the USC WR room and establish himself as a star in the 2022 NFL Draft class. Click here to confirm your accessLogin Now. USCs quarterbacks consistently made catches harder for London than they should be, but somehow London still ended up making them look good. which was unfortunately cut short by injury on Halloween. As a junior, he racked up an impressive 1,032 receiving yards on 51 receptions, averaging 20.2 yards per catch. A draft class that is top-heavy with WR talent without a slam dunk WR1. In this analysis, I will use some of our advanced stats for comparison but primarily rely on traditional stats to go back further and compare the 2022 prospects to draft classes since 2006. Stout, wins out in a crowd, and is tough to bring down after the reception. Check us out on YouTube for our NFL and NBA channels. Beyond that, Pickens is still raw in many aspects of receiver play and played in a run-first offense. John Johnson III: Should the Lions try and sign the freshly released safety? He's a lot faster than I thought so he can really run. InNjcmlwdCIpLCBlbCA9IGRvY3VtZW50LmdldEVsZW1lbnRzQnlUYWdOYW1l USC WR Drake London has been linked as a potential New York Jets draft target at No. ZXJ0QmVmb3JlKHMsIGVsKTsKICB9KSgpOwo8L3NjcmlwdD4KCjxub3Njcmlw 2020 Establish the Run. Call him Frankenstein. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports. Another impressive campaign saw him secure 1,089 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Drake London teased the workout-watchers by hinting hed run the various drills on his pro day, but he ultimately decided to pass. It is then up to us to layer in context and past results to see how good we think this player may be. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports. If he can recover from the ankle injury before next April, then Drake London can expect to hear his name called on opening night. London committed to USC before his senior season at Moorpark. Definitely someone I can take from his game and implement it into mine, London continued. If the 40-yard dash time or vertical jump are missing, I estimate them based on historical modeling with weight and available other workout metrics. However, he did run different catching drills. Although serious injury hampered the unique pass catchers final season, we saw enough to conduct a scouting report that showcases game-changing potential. Dynasty Outlook. The fact that he was a two-sport athlete including playing a season of basketball while at USC only emphasizes this point. For a receiver of this size, Drake London is still a fluid mover on the field with the ability change direction with relative ease. cG9XSlVIbnFWemRFYTd3JmFtcDtndG1fcHJldmlldz1lbnYtMSZhbXA7Z3Rt My name is Scott Rinear and I live in Seattle, Washington with my wife, two daughters and golden retriever (Jasper). Drake London excelled in his rookie season, although fantasy gamers were not elated with his WR43 finish. In comparison, 23-year-old Ridder threw for 708 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions on 73-of-115 passing (63.5%), good for a 6.2 A/Y and 6.5 AY/Y. At 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, London is a big-bodied target that plays as such. In this series of articles, I will compare the 2022 draft prospects to prior years and pick out the most similar comps with a clearly delineated and quantifiable method. He is a gamer. The comps below were derived from a two-step process. 5. Londons USC quarterback, Kedon Slovis, has called him a quarterbacks best friend. Game Selection. Thats not the only thing he can do, however, and hes managed to turn into the go-to target for the Trojans offense. He has great Wilsons talent is very obvious, but he will need to be more consistent in the NFL to be seen as a viable target instead of a reduced role player. Those performances earned him third-team Cal-Hi Sports All-State Juniors honors, in addition to being named to the All-CIF Division 5 team. Jordan Reid now of ESPN wrote about London as a riser during the season for The Draft Network. L3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNvbS9ndG0uanM/aWQ9JytpK2RsKycm As expected, he declared for the 2022 NFL Draft at the conclusion of the season. London has the ability to body any cornerback out, and his catch radius is special. Additionally, he is challenging to bring down in the open field, exhibiting competitive toughness to carry multiple players on his back. Help me out with the locker room atmosphere and all that, but at the end of the day Im just trying to get picked., Sign up for the Lions Wire newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. Report: Lions adding John Fox as a senior defensive consultant, Mock draft watch: PFF's latest 2-rounder attacks the secondary, Report: The Lions have a new DL coach from the college ranks, 4 questions for Lions GM Brad Holmes at the scouting combine, Lions mock offseason v3.0: Pre-combine edition, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. There is almost no contest, it is not a 50/50 ball. I think he is going to test better than people think, but I doubt he runs. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. Despite interest from Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Iowa State, and Oregon, there was only one destination for the California kid. High volume and high efficiency are both possible from London in the NFL. WebDrake London played football and basketball at Moorpark high school in Moorpark, CA. For all his ability on the basketball court, London excelled on the football field for Moorpark. WebDrake London is a 6-4, 200-pound Wide Receiver from Moorpark, CA. Depot Draft Grade: 8.6 Year One Quality Starter (1st Round) Games Watched: vs Stanford (2021), vs Utah (2021), at Notre Dame (2021) Previous 2022 NFL Draft Player Profiles. #15 Drake London - 6-foot-5, 209 pounds . ICAgIGo9ZC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KHMpLGRsPWwhPSdkYXRhTGF5ZXInPycm Where he can improve: The biggest question will be level of competition jump, but there is no question Watson has NFL talent. Kendre Miller, RB, TCU - 2023 NFL Draft Interview, Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton - 2023 NFL Draft Interview, Zebra Sports Interview - Live From The Senior Bowl. And it's not unnatural to him, as he was strictly an outside receiver in high school. WebAs is the case with LSU cornerback Derek Stingley, USC wide receiver Drake London entered the season with lofty expectations, and despite an eventual season-ending injury, The Philly head coach is excited for the stability on offense with promoting Brian Johnson and keeping the rest of the staff. Jeremiah has him 10th on his big board, sandwiched right between Garrett Wilson andTreylon Burks. The Falcons came into this draft needing just about everything, and its no surprise that they went with a receiver here. Austins success will hinge on teams deploying his speed properly and keeping him away from contested situations. He is a great route runner and rarely drops open passes, making him a perfect big play threat in a passing offense. If London were to play on the outside some this fall, that would be the avenue toward getting the tight ends more involved in the passing game, with a TE presumably filling those pass-catching opportunities inside. As a result, hes able to maintain possession even through contact in traffic over the middle of the field. ZG9uLXBsdXMtbW9yZS1vcHBvcnR1bml0eS1hdC10ZSIKICB9KTsKICAoZnVu An unfortunate by-product of his size, London tends to play with a high pad level. He dominates on 50/50 balls, making spectacular grabs (SEE: Colorado game). His recovery from an ACL injury in the title game is worth monitoring. So hes definitely been in my ear, helping me through this process. London gave a glimpse into his 2023 upside down the stretch last season. , which are built off the robust college data weve collected since 2014 and have been applied to exercises like building an. Can beat press, win with his footwork at the LOS, win with physicality at the top of his stem, win by shielding DBs with his body.Dude is special. His has blinding speed from the jump and can somehow hit a second gear to gain late separation against coverage and run away from defenses. Or listen to the Establish The Run Podcast, now approaching ten million lifetime downloads. London lacks desired top-end speed and separation quickness to open clear throwing windows but plays a mature, savvy brand of ball. He flashes an unexpected change-of-direction ability for someone so tall. Neither one of them are extremely fast players, but they're big, physical, very competitive with extremely good body control and body positioning players. Howie Roseman acknowledges Jalen Hurts deserves a tremendous contract, Mike Pettine reportedly in the mix to join the Eagles coaching staff. A prospect that continues to surge up draft boards, London has continued to be one of the lone bright spots for a program thats at one of its lowest points in history. eWltZy5jb20vY3gvdnptL2NzLmpzIjsKICAgIGVsLnBhcmVudE5vZGUuaW5z Fast for his size, Londons top-end speed, and burst are not elite and his release off the line of scrimmage is hindered by a relatively upright pre-snap stance. DFS Optimizer Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) March 3, 2022. Between the Washington State game in Week 3 and a late October clash with Notre Dame, London reeled in over 100 yards in five consecutive games. I watched a lot of his games. dCc6CiAgICAgICAgbmV3IERhdGUoKS5nZXRUaW1lKCksZXZlbnQ6J2d0bS5q And pairing a big-bodied athletic pass-catcher with Aaron Rodgers will always be a good idea until the day Rodgers retires. His toughness comes out at the line of scrimmage and down the field against contested coverage. However, there is more to separation from a defender than just spatial distance at the point of a target. aGF2ZSB0aGUgbGFzdCB2ZXJzaW9uCiAgICBzLnNyYyA9ICJodHRwczovL3Mu My biggest passion personally is fantasy football. His speed negates the amount of traffic he typically plays in, but it could limit his role in the NFL. However, most of his advanced metrics are solid indicators of success at the next level, including the youngest BOA in this class (stats courtesy of Playerprofiler.com): Still rehabbing from his October ankle injury, London was unable to participate in many of the NFL Combine events. One of the more intriguing wide receiver prospects at the 2022 NFL scouting combine is USCs Drake London. It is also worth noting that he will not turn 21 until the summer, making London one of the youngest prospects in the entire draft. If so, this lack of quickness will impact his ability to get away. Obviously we're continuing to train him just by playing football again really and really putting his face on somebody and getting hit in the head again, so it's a process and he knows that and he's made strides every practice. Draft Team Atlanta Falcons. Despite protestations to the contrary, the 2022 NFL Draft wide receiver class boasts not only top-end talent but impressive depth throughout the three days of the NFLs annual selection event. In comparison, 23-year-old Ridder threw for 708 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions on 73-of-115 passing (63.5%), good for a 6.2 A/Y and 6.5 AY/Y. As a senior at Moorpark High School in the western suburbs of Los Angeles, London racked up 1,089 yards on 62 catches with 12 touchdowns on the gridiron, and March 6. Drake London is a physically imposing receiver. When the play breaks down, he puts himself in a position for the quarterback to locate him. His powerful running style and long speed make him an offensive weapon and NFL teams are going to want to get him the ball. The theme of contested catch ability was also noted by Lance Zierlein. It was always funny because every time I see him run a route, I'm like man, that looks very eerily similar to Crab, and obviously Crab had a ton of success in the system so there's something to be said for finding ways to keep Drake outside.". Its understandable that London would want to ensure hes at full fitness, but the continual inability to test might raise significant question marks.