NFL News: Reporter sends warning as Falcons player might have breakout 2025 season and support Drake London

The Atlanta Falcons have reasons to be excited for the upcoming NFL season. Not only is Michael Penix Jr. now in charge as the starting quarterback, but the team has very good skill players ready to take the league by storm. Usually, you’ll hear talks about running back Bijan Robinson or wide receiver Drake London, but NFL Network’s Steve Wyche has said there’s a third guy with the potential to be a top star.

Wyche report states that the Falcons are very pleased with what they’ve seen from their top stars, but that offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is looking to use Darnell Mooney in different ways to make him stand out. This would mean a lot for Drake London, who would certainly welcome some support in the WR corp.

Wyche said “You know a lot of the conversation has been about his connection with wide receiver Drake London, but it is Darnell Mooney who is on the verge of a breakout. He’s someone they are using in a lot more different ways. He is a player that Penix has struck up something with.”

Now, breakout might actually seem unfair when talking about Mooney, who had a 992-yard season and 5 touchdowns in 2024. However, this means the expectations for Mooney are sky-high.

Darnell Mooney #1 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on October 03, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Darnell Mooney can take advantage of one key factor

While Drake London is and will be the primary option of the team’s aerial prowess, Mooney has characteristics that can blossom with Penix Jr. under center. The former Chicago Bear excels when used as a deep threat and the Falcons have a precise, signal-caller with a strong arm now.

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London can be a threat outside the numbers and on contested throws, while Mooney can run vertical routes and let Penix Jr. rip the ball downfield. Also, this opens up endless opportunities for Bijan Robinson to have empty boxes and run with a wide open defense.

There’s another player the Falcons hope to exploit

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. While Atlanta is certainly happy to see Mooney evolve into a certified threat, they are still waiting on tight end Kyle Pitts to deliver on his potential.

Once labeled as a ‘unicorn’ due to his skillset, Pitts has failed to translate his dominant college career to the NFL. The former Florida Gator has had only one season over 1,000 yards and it was his rookie year. After that, he’s never surpassed the 700 mark and has 10 career TDs in four years in the league.

If Kyle Pitts manages to unleash his raw talent, the Falcons could actually dream with having a top 10 offense with lots of promise. This because Pitts will be 25 years old when entering this season, Penix is in his second year, Bijan will be 23, London 24, and Mooney 28. The Falcons are young and talented, if they find rhythm, it’s going to be a problem for years to come.