A lot of the Chicago Bears' rookie class has provided positive moments in training camp. Tight end Cole Kmet is getting most of the attention as is fellow 2nd rounder Jaylon Johnson. However, one guy who continues to demand the spotlight each passing day is Darnell Mooney. The 5th round pick out of Tulane was a virtual unknown when the Bears drafted him.
At the rate things are happening, it won't be that way for much longer.
The biggest selling point with Mooney coming out of college was his speed. He has that legit extra gear to take the top off a defense. Yet scouts and coaches for the team insisted there was more than meets the eye with this kid. He has game. Not just running fast but runs advanced routes and showcases a pair of reliable hands.
That was on display Tuesday when Mooney made a crazy one-handed snag against Kyle Fuller in one-on-one drills.
Darnell Mooney could be a missing piece for the Bears
Big plays were hard to come by for the Bears last season. A big reason why was their lack of overall speed on offense. Taylor Gabriel was their only true speed threat and he spent most of the year hurt. So it wasn't hard to understand why they drafted Mooney and then signed veteran Ted Ginn Jr. They wanted more juice and they got it.
Where Mooney could help them the most is after the catch. Reportedly it's been one of his biggest strengths in cap thus far. Extra yardage is so important to team success on offense. Putting this kid and Ginn together on the field at the same time? That should drastically improve their odds of delivering some serious impact plays.
Not to mention what that would do for guys like Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, and Tarik Cohen. All of whom can exploit the added space over the middle.
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