One of the Chicago Bears’ key offensive players may be worth watching in the trade rumor mill.
Entering this offseason, a proven No. 1 receiver was among Chicago’s key needs. They found one in ex-Panthers’ star D.J. Moore, acquiring the three-time 1,000-yard wideout as part of the trade that sent Carolina the first overall pick (which they used on Bryce Young).
Now that Chicago has an established WR1 on the roster, could they look at dealing away fourth-year wideout Darnell Mooney, who’s coming off a frustrating 2022 campaign?
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus listed Mooney as a surprise trade candidate ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for teams to finalize their 53-man rosters:
“It would come as a major surprise if the Bears entertained the idea of actually moving on from Darnell Mooney, but it would be less surprising if Mooney was a bit frustrated with the lack of progress in extension conversations to this point in the offseason and was open to a change of scenery. Mooney went from the No. 1 receiving option in 2022 to sharing targets with D.J. Moore and Chase Claypool, and Chicago was a distant dead last in pass attempts, completions and yards last season. While they figure to take a massive leap forward, perhaps Mooney wants more volume in a pivotal contract year…
He appears to be extremely close with quarterback Justin Fields and growth is expected in 2023, but Mooney may not want to wait around to find out without a new contract coming off an ankle injury that prematurely ended his 2022 campaign.”
Mooney had a career year for the Bears in 2021, recording 81 catches for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns. In 12 games last season, Mooney had just 40 catches for 493 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
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The soon-to-be 26-year-old is entering the final year of his contract and could be of interest to several teams looking to bolster their receiving depth. The speedy Mooney could very well regain that 2021 star-like form with the right team.
If Mooney is enduring another inconsistent season leading up to the deadline, the Bears should at least be open to the idea of a trade instead of risking losing him for nothing in 2024 free agency.
