Darnell Mooney Lands $39M Falcons Contract to Join Kirk Cousins After Bears Stint

Jack MurrayMarch 12, 2024

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The Atlanta Falcons are building the receiver depth to aid the newly signed Kirk Cousins.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Falcons had signed receiver Darnell Mooney to a three-year deal worth $39 million, with $26 million fully guaranteed.

Adam Schefter @AdamSchefterFalcons are signing former Bears WR Darnell Mooney: 3 years, $39 million, including 26M fully guaranteed. Agents David Mulugheta and AJ Stevens negotiated and confirmed deal.

The former Chicago Bear will join an offense that already boasts Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson as reliable weapons for Cousins as the Falcons look to take a step forward in a weak NFC South.

Mooney has 2,593 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns through four seasons in Chicago, but a bulk of that production came in 2021 when he had 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns.

He had just 31 catches for 414 yards and a touchdown in 2023 as D.J. Moore became the clear No. 1 option and tight end Cole Kmet had a strong year as well. While he will enter a similar situation in Atlanta, with London and Pitts being more prominent targets, he will still be a great addition to a Falcons team that struggled with wide receiver production behind London in 2023.

The Falcons went 7-10 in 2023 and missed the postseason for the sixth consecutive season. The necessitated some change, with head coach Arthur Smith being fired and the team hiring Raheem Morris as the new head coach. With Cousins and Mooney now in the fold, the Falcons will hope to take a step forward and break the current streak.