The regular season is right around the corner and all 32 teams are trying to trim their rosters down to 53 players. While this is primarily done through releases, some teams decide to trade away their talented spare parts, and Darnell Mooney might be one of those players. According to PFF’s Brad Spielberger, the Bears could ship off Mooney to a new team in the coming days as the team works on building their 2023 roster.
At first glance, this doesn’t make too much sense, as Mooney is a solid, cost-controlled wide receiver. However, the Chicago Bears added D.J. Moore to be the top option in the passing attack, and Chase Claypool is also around to steal targets. The former fifth-round pick is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Bears are not ready to compete in 2023. If Mooney is not in the organization’s long-term plans, then they might as well trade him now and maximize their return. The only question is, which teams would be interested in the one-time 1,000-yard receiver?
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Darnell Mooney Listed As A Surprise Trade Candidate
5 Potential Team Fits
If the Chicago Bears decide to trade Darnell Mooney, they should have no shortage of suitors. While he’s obviously not the second coming of Randy Moss, the Tulane product clearly belongs in the NFL and can be a nice second or third option in the passing game. Players like this have value in today’s air-focused NFL, so somebody should make an offer if Mooney is available.
Generally speaking, when teams trade a player like Mooney, they won’t hand him over to a team that could challenge them in 2023. However, the Bears are not in a position to compete for a Super Bowl in the upcoming season. While they’d probably prefer to send him to an AFC team, ultimately, Mooney will go to the highest bidder. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at the five most likely Darnell Mooney trade destinations.
JUSTIN FIELDS FINDS DARNELL MOONEY FOR THE BEARS TOUCHDOWN!! pic.twitter.com/OwSyrWhVMN
— Brian (@thelegionsm) November 20, 2022
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs will have one of the best offenses in football as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center and Andy Reid is the head coach. However, they could certainly use another offensive weapon. Travis Kelce is as reliable as ever, but the rest of the pass-catching weapons leave a lot to be desired. Kadarius Toney is already hurt, Marquez Valdes-Scantling is a one-trick pony, and the rest of the wide receivers are either unproven or underwhelming. Darnell Mooney will not magically turn into Tyreek Hill in Kansas City, but a trade would make sense to improve the overall talent on the depth chart.
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills have Stefon Diggs and not much else at the wide receiver position. The 2022 season proved that guys like Gabriel Davis and Dawson Knox are better off in supporting roles, and first-round rookie tight end Dalton Kincaid probably won’t be ready to truly contribute until 2024. This team needs another reliable receiving option, and a Darnell Mooney trade would go a long way in building a more complete offense.
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers need Bryce Young to succeed, but they haven’t exactly created the best environment for him. Carolina has arguably the worst collection of receiving talent in the NFL, with aging veteran Adam Thielen leading the passing attack. Darnell Mooney would probably be the best receiver on the roster, and that alone justifies a trade. Bryce Young is good, but nobody can succeed in the NFL without a little bit of support.
Tennessee Titans
It’s hard to get a feel for just how good the Tennessee Titans wide receivers actually are. DeAndre Hopkins is obviously a huge name and Treylon Burks showed some promise as a rookie, so there is a chance that these two turn into a solid 1-2 duo. However, there is also a chance Hopkins is simply past his prime and Burks doesn’t build on the positive flashes of his rookie season. If that happens, it’s hard to imagine any way the Titans actually move the ball through the air. Tennessee needs a more reliable option with a higher floor, and Darnell Mooney is a perfect fit for the job.
Denver Broncos
It is a bad time to be a Denver Broncos wide receiver. Over the past month or so, Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, and K.J. Hamler all suffered some type of serious health setback, which means Courtland Sutton is the only proven option who will definitely be on the field in Week 1. That’s not ideal, especially since Russell Wilson desperately needs to bounce back during the first year of the Sean Payton Era. Darnell Mooney and his ability to stretch the field make him a great trade target, as Wilson loves to stretch the field. This seems to be a perfect match of talent and skill that could lead to some big plays throughout the season.
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