Even though the Chicago Bears finished the 2023 season with a 7-10 record, the final stretch saw the team go on a 4-2 run. Next season is a different story as the front office may let go of several players to improve their performance, with Darnell Mooney projected to be one of those guys.
Although the wide receiver has been a credible option in the past, the showing he had last season during a contract year was disappointing. Mooney, a wideout Dallas signed for $10 million, tallied 31 receptions, 414 yards, one touchdown, and 61 targets in 15 games during the previous campaign.
Those numbers alone aren’t sufficient if the Bears want to reach the playoffs next year. Add Mooney’s disconnect with Justin Fields as his quarterback, and the wide receiver displayed his worst season in terms of statistics.
Why Chicago Bears Must Let Darnell Mooney Walk Away in Free Agency
Rather than pursue Mooney and sign him to another contract, it might be best for the Cowboys to just let him go in free agency. Courtney Cronin explains more in an article for ESPN:
“Mooney’s 2023 season was a disappointment and a far cry from the wide receiver’s 81-catch, 1,055-yard breakout campaign in 2021, his second year. The 26-year-old struggled in his No. 2 role with a career-low 31 catches for 414 yards and one touchdown.
Maybe a change at quarterback would reignite Mooney, but the receiver is headed toward free agency, and looking outside of Chicago for a fresh start might be best. Perhaps a reunion with Matt Nagy in Kansas City could give him the type of role and compensation he’s looking for,” Cronin wrote.
As it stands, there’s a pretty strong chance Chicago will let Mooney find another team for next season. This is the ideal situation for the Bears, especially if they select Caleb Williams in the upcoming draft. With a talented quarterback like him joining the team, it only makes sense to pair him up with competent wide receivers.
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