Darnell Mooney's Future With The Bears Is Becoming Very Clear

The Chicago Bears wide receiver room has been quite underwhelming this season, with the exception of DJ Moore. Among the letdowns, one standout is Darnell Mooney, who is in his fourth year. It's a crucial decision-making year for the Bears, where they must choose between extending his contract or letting him walk in free agency. It appears that either of these options is likely to occur or perhaps Ryan Poles even deals him before the trade deadline.

Darnell Mooney production is at an all-time low

Let me preface this by saying Darnell Mooney is a great teammate. One of my favorite players on this team. However, it's important to note that his performance has been on a decline since his standout season in 2021 when he recorded 81 receptions for 1,055 yards. Last year, his output dropped to 40 receptions for 493 yards due to an ankle injury. With the addition of DJ Moore, it was expected that Mooney's role on the team would diminish, but his chemistry with Justin Fields should have allowed him to maintain consistent production in the offense. Unfortunately, this hasn't been the case.

So far this season, Mooney has only brought in 10 receptions for 152 yards and 1 touchdown in five games, which is disappointing, especially considering it's a crucial period in his career for earning a big time contract. The inconsistency in the Bears offense is a factor, but it hasn't stopped DJ Moore from putting up impressive numbers. Additionally, some of Fields overthrows have cost Mooney yards but this still won't help him much in contract negotiations.

The Bears have substantial draft capital and a lot of cap space heading into the 2024 off-season. However, it's reasonable to assume they might not extend Mooney unless he quickly turns around his 2023 season. Adding to the uncertainty is the possibility of Justin Fields missing some games and rookie Tyson Bagent taking over. Bagent's inexperience may result in some growing pains, but it's also possible that he could favor targeting Mooney with quicker throws. Regardless, Mooney needs to start delivering better results, or his future in Chicago could be in jeopardy.