For the first time since they drafted Julio Jones with their No. 6 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons opted to use a top 10 pick on a wide receiver, as they selected Drake London in the opening round yesterday.

London bolstered his stock during his final season at USC, where he recorded career highs in receiving yards (1,086) and receiving touchdowns (seven). He was an under-the-radar contender for the 2021 Heisman Trophy honor until his campaign was cut short following the season-ending ankle injury suffered in late October.

From his size to his elusiveness in the open field, London will bring much to the table in his upcoming rookie campaign in Atlanta. From Falcons head coach Arthur Smith’s standpoint, as he touched on during a press conference on Thursday, he plans to exploit London’s sheer speed.

“That’s the intent, you take a guy that high, but again, we’ll bring him on at his speed,” Smith said. “Certainly, when you put a pick that high on a player, there’s an expectation that this guy needs to contribute. No different than Kyle (Pitts) last year. But we have all been around it, and we are not going to expedite it.

“He is coming off of an injury last season, he’s good to go, which we still have to be smart as we bring him along and get to camp.”

London did not take part in the 40-yard dash in last month’s NFL Scouting Combine. As there were some outside concerns over his speed after coming off of the season-ending injury, he called on his critics earlier this month to “watch the film.”

On Smith’s part, he does not see that there are any question marks over his speed as well.

“It’s not top secret, but it’s our intellectual property,” Smith said. “Watch him in the slot? The guy is a dynamic player. Plays a lot of positions. He’s everything you want in the middle makeup.”

Smith further added that when it comes to possible restrictions for London over next month’s rookie minicamp, he plans on being “smart” with this matter.

With London and Kyle Pitts in the fold, Marcus Mariota sure will have much to work with on offense in the upcoming 2022 campaign.