Former Bears Wide Receiver Already Struggling With New Team

This offseason, the Chicago Bears overhauled their wide receiver room by trading for Keenan Allen and drafting Rome Odunze. These additions came after the team's decision to part ways with former fifth-round pick Darnell Mooney.

Mooney spent four seasons with the Bears, during which he recorded 213 catches for 2,593 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. His best season came in 2021 when he was paired up with Allen Robinson. In 2021, Mooney had 81 catches on 140 targets for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. That breakout season earned Mooney the number-one receiver role heading into the 2022 season.

However, Mooney didn't put up great stats in that role, catching 40 passes on 61 targets for 493 yards and two touchdowns. Mooney's failure to establish himself in 2022 is not all his fault because the Bears passing offense was the worst in the NFL.

Nevertheless, Mooney failed to be productive last season as the number two receiver behind D.J. Moore. In 2023, Mooney had 31 catches on 61 targets for 414 yards and one touchdown. Additionally, he had five dropped passes. Mooney's drop-off in play is the reason why the Bears let him go.

Thankfully for Mooney, the Atlanta Falcons were looking for a second wide receiver to pair up with Drake London this offseason. As a result, the Falcons offered Mooney a three-year deal worth $39 million.

Bears News: Darnell Mooney Already Struggling on the Falcons

While many fans believed the Falcons overpaid for Mooney, the team is confident he can return to his productive form from 2021. However, footage of Mooney struggling in training camp has emerged.

Despite this being a single rep against the Falcons' best cornerback, A.J. Terrell, it reflects how Mooney has performed against starting cornerbacks over the past two seasons. Thankfully for Mooney during the season, he won't be up against the team's best cornerbacks.

While Mooney's struggling to make the catch in the first clip is understandable, his failure to make the catch in this clip is downright unacceptable. A wide receiver with starting experience should easily beat a backup cornerback in a one-on-one. Mooney's failure to do that in this one rep shows why the Bears were comfortable letting him go.

It is still early in training camp, so maybe Mooney can turn it around. However, if he is unable to turn it around, then the contract the Falcons have him can turn out to be one of the worst.

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