Grading the Chicago Bears 2020 draft class after rookie season
By Joseph Herff
Chicago Bears Round 5, Pick No. 173 — Darnell Mooney | WR | Tulane
This was yet again another home run pick for Ryan Pace. It’s hard to gauge which pick was honestly better between this one and the Johnson selection, but I believe the edge goes to Darnell Mooney.
After struggling in college with dropped passes, Mooney fell in the draft, but he has shown no signs of that issue in the NFL. He additionally fell due to his slender frame, but he isn’t afraid of contact despite that.
Mooney didn’t start at the beginning of the season, but he eventually beat out Ted Ginn Jr. for the starting deep-threat, speed wide receiver. He then eventually started seeing more snap counts than Anthony Miller as well. Mooney emerged as the number two target to both Bears’ quarterbacks and could’ve had an incredible season if either quarterback developed better chemistry with him.
His explosiveness, speed, and route-running are all incredible for a rookie. It’s going to be fun to see how he develops down the line as he showed this much promise as a rookie. Get him a quarterback that can throw the deep ball and the Bears found themselves a star.
Grade: A+