The Chicago Bears found their speedster at the wide receiver position, making yet another trade to draft wide-out Darnell Mooney.
General manager Ryan Pace traded up to select Mooney with the 173rd overall pick, trading a pair of sixth-round picks (196 and 200) and seventh-round pick (233) with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bears also received the 227th overall selection in the deal as well.
Mooney brings an element that was missing from the Bears passing attack in 2019: Speed. The former Tulane standout led the team with 48 catches for 713 yards and five touchdowns last season. He also ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
The trade caught Twitter by surprise, but fans and experts had plenty to say about the team’s latest selection.
Very excited about this pick! https://t.co/IpyisASubF
— Paige Dimakos (@The_SportsPaige) April 25, 2020
Mooney isn’t a big guy but has 4.38…. can’t teach that!
— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) April 25, 2020
I love the Darnell Mooney selection! The Bears needed speed so badly in this offense. He will help stretch the field in 2020. #bears
— Dan DeYoung (@DanDeYoungFB) April 25, 2020
#Bears pick Darnell Mooney and bring back some speed to receiving core after cutting ties with Taylor Gabriel. Welcome, Turbo 2.0.
— Flo Ottis (@flo_ottis) April 25, 2020
OHH MAN. DARNELL MOONEY. #Bears got a potential steal in the fifth round. Electric receiver that understands leverage and stems to work to get open. This was the speed they needed. Still not done yet. One bigger move left to be made..
— Brandon Robinson (@BRobNFL) April 25, 2020
I am a huge Darnell Mooney fan, he has some Eddie Royal to him, but with better ball tracking.
— Bill Carroll (@elevenbravo138) April 25, 2020
Bears fans are going to love Darnell Mooney 🏃💨 https://t.co/61HCVe00ZT
— Christian (@ChristianR_Vill) April 25, 2020
Darnell Mooney is perfect for attacking the intermediate middle of the field. Perfect for Nagy.
— J-Roc (@yaboyjustyslim) April 25, 2020
Darnell Mooney's 40 time is like Johnny Knox speed
— Bayek of Sowa (@SowaTheArrogant) April 25, 2020
WR Darnell Mooney is an interesting pick at the end of the fifth round by the Bears. Tulane product has speed, runs very good routes, creates separation. He is skinny and needs to cut down on his drops.
— NFL Draft Blitz (@NFLDraftBlitz) April 25, 2020
Bears take Darnell Mooney over Collin Johnson 🤦🏽♂️… I hope that works out
— Billy Ray Valentine Sr. (@MR_BillyRayVal) April 25, 2020
How are you feeling about the team’s selection of Mooney?