PHOENIX — It wasn't too long ago when Ian Cunningham turned on the tape of a tall and physical receiver out of USC. He knew then he was watching a first-round talent about to embark on his NFL journey.
That's because Drake London had his attention even then.
"What we thought of him then, he has already showcased in the NFL," Cunningham said at the NFL Annual League Meetings Monday. "Just his ability to high-point balls, the tenacity, the personality he plays with on the field. I feel like if I were a teammate of his, I would like playing with him."
The topic of London and his future in Atlanta came up in the context of a potential extension for the receiver. London will play on his fifth-year option in 2026. League rules dictate longer extensions can be met and agreed upon during this time with the player and his current team.
Over the last three years, the Falcons came to longer term deals with two of its former first-round picks. Chris Lindstrom stuck a deal prior to the new league year of his sixth year beginning, while A.J. Terrell agreed to an extension prior to his fifth year being played.
That was the previous regime. The current one also used mechanisms of the league to keep players under contract a little longer. The organization used the franchise tag on Kyle Pitts just last month, with the tight end nearing the end of his fifth year.
Cunningham said the future of London and what mechanisms the team could deploy for him are absolutely thoughts in the back of their minds as they go through free agency and draft planning. Well, maybe not even back of mind.
"I think it's top of mind," Cunningham said. "I think all of these type of decisions are top of mind just in terms of you know its coming, but right now we are really focused on this wave of free agency, we have the draft coming — but don't think for one second that that hasn't been thought of. Don't think for one second that we aren't already thinking about all of these different things moving forward."
Receivers and their value are top of mind for the league, too, at the NFL Annual League Meetings.
On March 25, it was announced Seahawks standout wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million contract extension, making him the NFL's highest-paid receiver. Other top pass catchers and their imminent pay days were also big topics of discussion, particularly Rams receiver Puka Nacua, who head coach Sean McVay said he hopes is "a Ram for a really long time."
Though Cunningham did not allude to a London decision being imminent, he did say he does keep tabs on the market.
"You have to take (the timing of the market) into account just in terms of preparation as we go down those paths of extension talks with all of these guys," Cunningham said. "You have to kind of have your eyes set on the league and who's going to be coming up this year, who's going to potentially come up next year, how that's going to affect the potential franchise tag moving forward. All of those mechanisms, all those things are taken into account."
Unlike some of the examples dominating league meetings in Phoenix, the Falcons have time on their side with London under contract for another year.
"We don't want outside factors to push us into feeling like we have to make a decision right now," Cunningham added.
Still, it doesn't hurt to begin thinking about London's future — and Bijan Robinson's, too. The latter of whom could have his own fifth-year option picked up by the deadline of May 1.
"I feel like what we do a really good job of is preparing for that," Cunningham said, "but also understanding that we have things that we really need to attack right now, and then we will attack those moving forward."
Cunningham noted he wants to get through the next wave of free agency and the draft before really getting too deep into these types of decisions. He'd also like to meet London in person, too, as the receiver has been home training in California since the season ended.
So, even though his future is top of mind for Cunningham and the Falcons, it's OK to stay there for a little bit.
"Let's take it a day at a time," Cunningham concluded.
