Tag: Darnell Mooney

Falcons WR Darnell Mooney, TE Kyle Pitts make plays at scrimmage

WATCH: Falcons WR Darnell Mooney, TE Kyle Pitts make plays at Wednesday’s scrimmage

Training camp is winding down for the Atlanta Falcons but not without one final scrimmage at Wednesday’s open practice. The team must cut down its roster to 53 players by the NFL’s August 27 deadline. As we examined on Monday, several players are roster locks but a handful of spots are still up for grabs.

Two players who don’t have to worry about making the team are wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Kyle Pitts. At Wednesday’s practice, Mooney and Pitts continued to make plays as they have throughout training camp. Watch as Mooney high-points the football to bring in the catch over Falcons cornerback Clark Phillips III below:

In the first half of Wednesday’s Pitts got open down the left sideline and caught a Kirk Cousins touchdown pass. Watch as Pitts shows off his speed to break away fro the defense.

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CBS Sports lists 2 under-the-radar Falcons players to watch in 2024

CBS Sports listed two under-the-radar Falcons players to watch in 2024

Each year in the NFL, different players seemingly come out of nowhere to become household names. Last season, we saw Rams fifth-round pick Puka Nacua burst onto the scene with 105 catches and 1,486 receiving yards.

We’ve seen others, including 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and Rams running back Kyren Williams, break out in recent seasons. Are there any Falcons players who could sneak up on the rest of the league this year?

CBS Sports released a list of 50 under-the-radar players who could shape the NFL in 2024. Two Falcons players were listed among the top 50. Wide receivers Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore were ranked 10th and 11th, respectively:

Atlanta’s two biggest wide receiver free agent signings couldn’t be much more different, and the fact that they both make this list speaks volumes to Atlanta’s limited depth at wide receiver. Mooney, primarily a deep threat, had a career-low 31 catches last season. Since entering the league in 2021, Moore has the fifth-highest yards after catch per reception in the NFL (min. 100 receptions), but he’s pretty much exclusively an underneath option, and he has struggled mightily with injuries. — Zachary Pereles, CBS Sports

Mooney is an intriguing player whose first two seasons in the NFL were considerably better than his last two. The former Bears wide receiver had 1,055 receiving yards in 2021 while racking up 907 combined yards from 2022-2023. Perhaps a pocket passer like Cousins can get the most out of Mooney in Atlanta.

As for Moore, the Falcons acquired him in exchange for quarterback Desmond Ridder in an offseason trade with the Cardinals. The 24-year-old is primarily a slot receiver due to his size (5-foot-7, 180 pounds). Moore has racked up 135 catches for 1,201 receiving yards and three touchdowns over his three seasons in Arizona.

Wide receiver was one of the team’s bigger needs this offseason since Atlanta chose not to re-sign Mack Hollins, Van Jefferson or Scotty Miller. Mooney and Moore could thrive playing with more physically imposing weapons like Kyle Pitts and Drake London.

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Despite quarterback dysfunction, the Falcons’ offense has the chance to be great

The Falcons’ new quarterback situation confused everybody, but their offense can still be great in 2024 and beyond.

Okay… we know. This is not how anybody saw it going.

Less than two months after the Falcons signed Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million contract with $100 million guaranteed, the Falcons selected Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Whatever reasons the Falcons had for signing Cousins and then adding Penix when this means that Penix may have to sit for multiple years, there’s a lot to say about what Atlanta did to the rest of its offense that could make it far more dynamic than it has been in years. And that’s been eclipsed by all the weirdness. In addition to Cousins’ NFL pedigree, and Penix’ explosive potential, there’s the matter of three other offensive skill players selected in the first round by this team — tight end Kyle Pitts in 2021, receiver Drake London in 2022, and running back Bijan Robinson in 2023.

In addition to all those moves, the Falcons moved on from head coach and offensive shot-caller Arthur Smith, who was hamstrung by his quarterbacks last season, and didn’t seem to understand how to best use his best players anyway. In comes head coach Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, firmly from the Sean McVay tree.

But wait… there’s more! The Falcons also signed former Eagles and Bears receiver Darnell Mooney to a three-year, $39 million contract with $26 million guaranteed, and they also added former Cardinals receiver Rondale Moore.

That’s a lot of targets for those footballs — whoever may be throwing them — but again, let’s cast aspersions aside and look at the talent here. Robinson should have a much better sense of how to use his talent, Cousins is a natural fit in Robinson’s offense if Robinson brings the heavy play-action/motion stuff with three-receiver sets, and we’ll see in the preseason how Penix fits in after playing in Ryan Grubb’s NFL-conversant offense.

The Falcons’ passing game could be one of those great marriages that just started off with a really weird first date.

 

 

PFF lists favorite, least favorite moves by Falcons in free agency

Pro Football Focus highlighted their favorite and least favorite moves by the Falcons in free agency thus far

After struggling to find a quarterback over the last two offseasons, the Atlanta Falcons didn’t waste any time going after the top free agent on the market. The team signed veteran Kirk Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal on the opening day of free agency.

Aside from signing Cousins, the Falcons brought in wide receivers Ray-Ray McCloud and Darnell Mooney. Plus, they traded quarterback Desmond Ridder to Arizona in exchange for wide receiver Rondale Moore.

Time will tell how these new additions fare in Atlanta, but Pro Football Focus listed their favorite and least favorite moves by each of the 32 NFL teams. PFF’s Brad Spielberger listed Mooney as his favorite Falcons free-agent addition:

Mooney avoided a one-year flier after a down 2023 season and got paid a contract that reflects an understanding that his lack of production in recent years wasn’t entirely his fault, with the Bears ranking 32nd in passing yards over his rookie contract. Mooney still separated consistently on film, and now he immediately steps in as a No. 2 option at wide receiver opposite Drake London, winning in different ways than him and tight end Kyle Pitts. A reunion with former Bears general manager Ryan Pace, the man who drafted Mooney in 2020, was a perfect match for all parties.

So while the team was praised for adding Mooney, PFF wasn’t as high on Atlanta’s decision to sign Cousins. The 35-year-old makes the Falcons a better team but is coming off a serious Achilles tear that prematurely ended his 2023 campaign.

Spielberger expressed concern over Cousins’ age and injury status but conceded that he was a top-15 player at his position:

Cousins has undoubtedly proven he’s a top-10-to-15 quarterback in the NFL, and this is the going rate when a player of that caliber reaches unrestricted free agency. Nonetheless, it seems like some people are hand-waving the fact he’ll be 36 years old coming off a torn Achilles. That said, his dance moves looked good at the NFL Awards, so clearly his recovery is going well. — Brad Spielberger, PFF

The pressure is on Cousins to live up to his $100 million in guaranteed money and avoid a Russell Wilson-like disaster in Atlanta. The former Michigan State star has passed for 39.471 yards, 270 touchdowns and 110 interceptions over 12 NFL seasons.

Cousins has a proven track record of high-level play in the regular season and assuming he returns healthy, the Falcons are the clear favorites for the NFC South in 2024.

Falcons finalize contract with free-agent WR Darnell Mooney

The Falcons officially signed free-agent WR Darnell Mooney to a three-year deal on Friday

The Atlanta Falcons have a new No. 2 wide receiver after signing Darnell Mooney to a three-year, $39 million contract. Mooney, 26, gives the team a legitimate deep threat on the outside, which should help open things up for players like Drake London, Kyle Pitts and Bijan Robinson.

Mooney topped 1,000 receiving yards once in his four seasons but he’s arguably a better fit in Atlanta than he was in Chicago. The speedy wideout officially signed his contract with the Falcons on Friday, the team announced on Twitter.

The Falcons have made a few other changes on offense, trading away quarterback Desmond Ridder for Cardinals wide receiver Rondale Moore on Thursday. Ridder started 13 games for Atlanta in 2023 and now he becomes Kyler Murray’s backup in Arizona.

Mooney and Moore bring depth to one of the team’s thinnest positions and both players should play important roles on offense this season.

Falcons to sign former Bears WR Darnell Mooney

Former Bears WR Darnell Mooney has found a new home with the Falcons.

Former Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney has found a new home.

Mooney is expected to sign with the Atlanta Falcons, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, reuniting with former Bears general manager Ryan Pace, who drafted him. Mooney will also join new quarterback Kirk Cousins in what’s already a stacked group in Atlanta.

It’s a three-year, $39 million deal worth $26 million fully guaranteed for Mooney.

Mooney joins a Falcons skill position group that already includes receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and running back Bijan Robinson.

Mooney, a former fifth-round pick by the Bears in 2020, had a solid start to his NFL career, which included eclipsing 1,000 receiving yards in his second season. In 60 career games, Mooney totaled 213 receptions for 2.593 yards with 11 touchdowns.

Unfortunately, the past couple of seasons were a bit of a disappointment for Mooney, where he failed to hit that 1,00-yard mark in those two seasons combined. Now, Mooney gets a fresh start where he joins a loaded offensive group with the Falcons.

Meanwhile, the Bears are projected to receive a 2025 fourth-round compensatory pick for Mooney. With Chicago one spot behind Atlanta, the Bears are in a prime position to land a top wide receiver (if they fall) in the NFL draft with the Falcons not in need of a receiver.

Falcons signing wide receiver Darnell Mooney to 3-year deal

The Falcons are signing wide receiver Darnell Mooney to a 3-year, $39 million contract, NFL Network reported on Tuesday

The Atlanta Falcons made a splash by signing quarterback Kirk Cousins on the opening day of free agency. On the second day, the team added a new wide receiver for Cousins to play with.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Falcons are signing former Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney to a three-year, $39 million contract with $26 million guaranteed.

Mooney, 26, was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Tulane. Over his first four seasons, Mooney has accumulated 213 catches for 2,594 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.

His best season came in 2021 when he finished with 81 catches for 1,055 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Many connected the Falcons with Bears quarterback Justin Fields, but instead, they ended up with one of Fields’ top weapons in free agency.

Top 12 remaining free-agent wide receivers

Tee Higgins and Mike Evans are now off the table. So, who’s left?

Sorry, Carolina Panthers fans. There will probably be no Tee Higgins and definitely no Mike Evans in your team’s immediate future.

But that doesn’t mean they still can’t sign a worthwhile wideout next week.

Here are the top 12 remaining receivers who are slated to hit free agency:

Titans named possible landing spot for free-agent WR, safety

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler named the Titans as a potential landing spot for two free agents, one at safety and one at wide receiver.

In a recent article covering some of the buzz from the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, the Tennessee Titans were named as a team to watch for a pair of pending free agents, one at safety and one at wide receiver.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler believes the Titans could be a fit for free-agent safety C.J. Gardner Johnson, which does make sense considering the team’s need for a starter to pair with Amani Hooker.

Fowler cites Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson as a connection to Gardner-Johnson after he was the safety’s defensive backs coach with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022.

A C.J. Gardner-Johnson reunion in Philadelphia is on my radar. The Eagles realized they missed the talented safety in the secondary. Tennessee makes sense for him, too. Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson is a big fan of Gardner-Johnson from their Philly days.

Gardner-Johnson missed the vast majority of the 2023 campaign due to a torn pectoral muscle but was able to return for the final game of the regular season and playoffs.

The 26-year-old is young enough to be a long-term solution for the Titans and he offers versatility thanks to his experience playing as a single-high safety, in the box and out of the slot. He won’t be too expensive, either.

All that said, how much the Titans prioritize signing a starting-caliber safety in free agency will be determined by how the team views 2021 third-round pick Elijah Molden, who is a candidate to start alongside Hooker.

Fowler also mentioned the Titans as a possibility for wide receiver Darnell Mooney, who he considers a sleeper free agent that is getting buzz.

The Chicago wideout is much better than his 2023 stat line of 31 catches for 414 yards and 5 TDs suggests. The Chiefs or Titans could be players here.

The former fifth-round pick has one 1,000-yard season under his belt but hasn’t surpassed more than 631 yards in any of his other three seasons. He posted a career-low 414 yards in 2023.

It’s important to note, though, that he wasn’t exactly catching passes from elite throwers, with his list of quarterbacks headlined by guys like Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields.

Mooney does have a connection to the Titans, as his wide receivers coach from the last two campaigns, Tyke Tolbert, has the same role in Tennessee.

The Tulane product would be a good depth signing for the Titans, especially because of his ability to be a deep threat, but I don’t think he checks the box of the surefire No. 2 Tennessee needs behind DeAndre Hopkins.

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1 pending free agent the Eagles could target from each NFC team

We’re looking at one pending free agent from each NFC team that the Philadelphia Eagles could target

Free agency is about two weeks away, and the Philadelphia Eagles have several players set to hit the open market. General manager Howie Roseman has to make critical decisions to fill roster holes.

While Roseman will likely look to the free agent market for answers, several in-house free agents are candidates to sign an extension ahead of free agency.

The Birds are set to have 20 pending free agents, and with another likely retool schedule on defense, the organization could conjure up a scheme for more flexibility.

According to Over the Cap’s potential transaction chart, the Eagles can easily create $35.4 million in cap space by making these five moves.

With the new league year fast approaching, we’re looking at one pending free agent from each NFC team that could interest Philadelphia.