Bears Receiver Nets $13 million a Year Deal
Darnell Mooney bet on himself and didn't lose after all.
The Bears receiver has agreed to a three-year deal at $39 million with the team where the man who drafted him is employed. That's Ryan Pace and the Atlanta Falcons. The report by ESPN's Adam Schefter said Mooney is getting $26 million guaranteed.
Last year, according to Brad Biggs of the Tribune, Mooney rejected a deal at $10 million per year from the Bears. It did look like he lost a bet on himself with a second straight down-season in terms of receptions.
The Luke Getsy offense wasn't kind to Mooney. He had only 31 receptions last year for 414 yards and a touchdown, one year after he had 41 receptions for 493 yards and two TDs. His big years were in Matt Nagy's offense with the Bears in 2020 with 61 catches for 631 yards and four TDs and 2021 with 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four TDs.
Mooney was the clear No. 3 target for Justin Fields last year and suffered a concussion near season's end. He missed two games. The previous season, he played in only 12 games due to an ankle injury that required surgery to repair.
There is also the line of thinking that Mooney's decrease in productivity came about because Justin Fields wasn't good at reaching him in the progression and came off DJ Moore to tight end Cole Kmet or took off running. When Allen Robinson was with the Bears in 2021, he essentially became the third receiver and had just 38 receptions while Mooney made 81 and Kmet 60.
The deal puts Mooney in a receiver corps chasing passes from Kirk Cousins. The Falcons also have Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. Running back Bijan Robinson also is a threat as a receiver.
The Bears didn't figure to bring back Mooney but they haven't replaced him with anyone as of the start of the second 24 hours of free agency. They also lose Equanimeous St. Brown to free agency, so it's safe to assume they'll be addressing receiver either in the draft or the remainder of free agency.
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven
