Chicago Bears: 5 Players who exceeded expectations

Darnell Mooney, Wide Receiver

Many people, including myself, did not expect Darnell Mooney to be an immediate impact. I was extremely high on the draft pick of Mooney and thought he could develop into a great deep threat one day, but I was mistaken.

Mooney has seemed to already be a top deep threat in the NFL. Not only that, but he is developing into a great receiver already as only a rookie. The rookie fifth-round pick didn’t see the field much in his first game but beat out veteran Ted Ginn Jr. for the starting job at wide receiver after just a few games.

Mooney caught 61 passes for 631 yards and four touchdowns for the Bears this season. Those numbers could’ve been much higher if the Bears didn’t change quarterbacks and then change back and he could develop chemistry with the quarterback. He emerged as the true second-option to star wide receiver Allen Robinson beating out Anthony Miller for that spot.

Mooney will be a great receiver down the line and it is mind-blowing how good he is already as just a fifth-round rookie. The Bears should be very excited to have him as he is arguably the best move Ryan Pace made this offseason.