Former Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney will soon be heading back to free agency after Ian Rapoport reported that the Atlanta Falcons are planning to release him ahead of the new league year. The move would clear almost $18.5 million from Atlanta's books.
Moves like this are common at this time of year ahead of free agency and the new league year, but it's not typically a completely healthy 28-year-old veteran receiver with a year left on his contract. You'd usually see this type of player with this type of value associated with a trade deadline deal rather than a cap casualty. But in the current NFL environment, where the salary cap is over $300 million per year and certain individual players are making north of $50 million per year, this side effect is expected.
Mooney Still Brings Value
Mooney signed with the Falcons after the Bears allowed him to walk following the finale of his rookie contract in 2024, where he was expected to compliment the Falcons' receiving group. The trouble is that the Falcons' defense in 2024 and 2025 was built around the run, and Mcomplementooney was never given a chance to really connect with the quarterback. Mooney signed with the Falcons on March 12, 2024, the day following the announcement of Kirk Cousins inking a four-year deal worth $180 million.
Then everything changed when Penix Jr was drafted. The majority of the NFL was shocked when the Falcons selected Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick, and many eyes turned to Cousins and his $90 million guaranteed. The argument could be made that Mooney signed with the Falcons, expecting a tried-and-true veteran quarterback.
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Mooney may not have produced the numbers Atlanta had hoped for, but the situation around him developed quickly. What initially looked like a pairing with a proven veteran quarterback turned into a much different offensive timeline once the Falcons drafted Penix Jr. Now, just two years after signing in Atlanta, Mooney is set to hit free agency at only 28 years old, likely drawing interest from teams looking for a vertical threat at Wide receiver.