Puka Nacua, George Pickens among top WR extension candidates after Drake London deal

Drake London became the latest NFL receiver to cash in on a big-money contract during the 2026 NFL offseason.

The Atlanta Falcons are signing London to a four-year, $141.5 million extension, according to multiple reports. London, 25 in July, will now be under contract through the 2030 NFL season.

London's average annual value (AAV) of $35.25 million will rank third among NFL receivers. Only Jaxon Smith-Njigba ($42.15 million) and Ja'Marr Chase ($40.25 million) will make more annually than him.

London's deal comes after the 2022 first-round pick posted 68 catches for 919 yards and seven touchdowns across 12 games in 2025. And during the previous season, London logged an even 100 catches and posted his first-ever 1,000-yard campaign (1,271).

The biggest looming question for NFL fans after London's mega-deal is, who will be next? The Falcons will likely turn their attention to Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts, but several other receivers around the NFL could view London's contract as a framework for potentially lucrative extensions.

Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams

Nacua has become one of the NFL's best receivers since being selected in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The newly minted 25-year-old posted an NFL-best 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025, earning an All-Pro first team nod for his performance.

The Rams are seemingly in the midst of an all-in push as they try to capitalize on the final years of reigning NFL MVP Matthew Stafford's career. That should help Nacua's case to command a top-dollar deal that comes close to Smith-Njigba's market-setting contract.

That said, Nacua has had a turbulent offseason. He was accused of biting a woman on the shoulder after a group dinner in the Century City area of Los Angeles on Dec. 31, according to acivil lawsuit filed by the woman with the Superior Court of Los Angeles County March 25, and entered rehab in wake of the incident.

That could complicate Nacua's path toward a big-money extension this offseason, as the Rams could simply let him play out the final year of his rookie contract before slapping him with the franchise tag in the 2027 offseason.

George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

Speaking of the franchise tag, Pickens is currently slated to play the 2026 NFL season on that tender. The Cowboys tagged himafter the 25-year-old posted a career-best 93 catches, 1,429 yards,and 10 touchdowns during his first season in Dallas and was named an All-Pro second-teamer.

Any decision about signing Pickens to a long-term contract will depend on Dallas' willingness to spend big at the receiver position. CeeDee Lamb is entering just the second season of a four-year, $136 million contract, so the Cowboys would have a lot of money tied up at wide-out if they give Pickens a lucrative extension.

But with Jerry Jones now 83 and hungry for another shot at a Super Bowl, it's easy to imagine Dallas going all-in to keep together an offense that ranked fifth in EPA per play last season, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats.

GEORGE PICKENS CONTRACT PREDICTION: How much could Cowboys WR make?

Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints

Olave, London's NFC South counterpart, is also in line for a long-term extension. The Ohio State product is coming off a season during which he posted career-best marks in receptions (100), receiving yards (1,163) and receiving touchdowns (9) while providing rookie quarterback Tyler Shough with a consistent weapon.

Olave has generated at least 1,000 receiving yards in three of his four NFL seasons to date. The lone exception was in 2024, when he was only able to log 400 yards across eight games after suffering multiple concussions - and considering retirement because of them.

Could Olave's history of concussions be a potential hang-up in contract negotiations? It's possible, especially when it comes to haggling about guaranteed money. But more likely, the Saints will be happy to find a middle ground with Olave given the 2022 first-round pick's importance to New Orleans' offense.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Drake London gets big-money contract extension. Which WR will be next?