Reinvigorated and unleashed: Darnell Mooney has fully arrived

Don't call it a breakout season. Don't label it as a stunning surprise. Darnell Mooney always possessed the capabilities to be a difference-maker in the NFL.

Any wide receiver who produces in a dire situation with severely limited quarterbacks must command respect. The former fifth-round pick produced 81 receptions for 1,055 receiving yards in 2021. Justin Fields played 12 games in his rookie season. Andy Dalton and Nick Foles played a combined nine games. There were numerous weeks where multiple quarterbacks were taking snaps. It's a wide receiver's worst nightmare when they cannot sustain a consistent rapport with the quarterback. That's what transpired for the majority of his career in Chicago.

It didn't stop Mooney from making highlight-reel plays to emerge as a legitimate playmaker. Considered by many draft analysts as a borderline NFL player due to his slender size and lackluster route-running, he quickly proved his capabilities in a featured role.

Unfortunately, he couldn't build on his success. Chicago's transition to becoming more run-oriented and structuring the offense to play to Fields' strengths left Mooney as an afterthought most weeks. Combine that with nagging injuries, a once-rising talent was no longer integral to Chicago's long-term vision. It was time for a change.

Elevating to New Heights There was a fair amount of skepticism about the Atlanta Falcons signing Mooney to a fairly lucrative deal. While the explosive wide receiver made my 2024 Falcons' free agency wish list as a player the organization should seriously pursue, it was understandable why many questioned if he could be the number two wide receiver the offense desperately needed.

There was no doubt Mooney would bring much-needed explosiveness and field-stretching ability to an offense in need of a jolt. It came down to winning outside consistently against cornerbacks who played press coverage, and producing enough big plays to relieve pressure off Atlanta's three former top-ten draft picks. Could he reestablish himself as a dependable playmaker for Kirk Cousins on a team going through a major overhaul at the wide receiver position? Only Drake London and KhaDarel Hodge remained in the wide receiver core from last season.

As the season enters Week 10, Mooney ranks second in the NFL in 20+ yard catches with 14 and 20+ yard receiving touchdowns with four. He is also ninth in receiving yards, producing 85+ yards in four games. He has become one of the focal points in one of the most efficient offenses in the league.

Cornerbacks are often trailing behind or left flat-footed in front of him as he creates acres of separation. Playing bigger than his frame to make contested catches was something that was on display during his breakout season in 2021. He is doing it more consistently, not allowing defensive backs to outmuscle him at the catch point. To top it all off, Mooney is making defenses pay after the catch with his slick movement and sharpness in using leverage to glide or accelerate past defenders.

All the doubts about Mooney's capabilities have been erased. He has been outstanding on throws outside the numbers on isolated routes, using his rapid quickness, clever footwork, and fluidity to change direction. Cornerbacks haven't been able to stay in stride with him when he runs a deep comeback. That valuable skill of creating separation off pure route-running ability is a massive component of the Falcons' offensive ascension.

Defenses always had to account for him as a vertical threat. They are now realizing what type of impact Mooney can make when running more in-breaking routes or operating underneath on quick pass concepts.

What Atlanta's new fan favorite is doing after the catch has been arguably the most impressive development in his game, because it's something he wasn't able to showcase in Chicago. His feel for evading defenders is astounding because of how he positions himself at the catch point with separation and shifts his hips to break past defensive backs in hot pursuit.

Mooney made Dallas cornerback Caelen Carson badly miss on a third and five to convert in a crucial moment. On his second touchdown against Tampa Bay during Atlanta's memorable Thursday night win, Mooney understands the space he has to work against Tykee Smith to make him wildly miss in the open field. The notion that Mooney would be primarily a vertical threat has been quickly erased. He is a certified all-around playmaker that defenses must account for in all aspects of the game.

Staying Dangerous on the Field, Becoming Influential off the Field As much as Mooney has evolved as a wide receiver, he is still most lethal on vertical routes. In an offense with prolific playmakers and an offensive coordinator using pre-snap motion he learned from one of the NFL's true offensive masterminds in Los Angeles , the opportunities are there to maximize his skill set. Once Cousins connected with him for a 41-yard touchdown against Philadelphia, where Mooney showed off his tackle-breaking ability by sending C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the ground, it gave the dynamic wide receiver the platform to get back to being a weekly difference-maker. This wasn't accomplished strictly off being faster than defensive backs. He is doing it by being a complete wide receiver.

He torched Trent McDuffie on a deep over route for a 26-yard gain against Kansas City with a blistering release at the line of scrimmage. The ability to beat press coverage that decisively against one of the better cornerbacks in the league was eye-opening.

The way he rose up in traffic to catch a scorching ball from Cousins down the seam for his first touchdown against Tampa Bay in the epic Thursday night matchup was even more remarkable. Although making contested catches has never been a true strength in his game, Mooney can play bigger than his size by making tough catches over the middle of the field. He did it dramatically in what proved to be his real welcoming in Atlanta. Combining the speed, athleticism, and route-running with physicality makes for someone who can take over games like he did in the first meeting against Tampa Bay.

Mooney is on pace to set career highs in all major categories. Per Pro Football Focus, he is averaging 1.92 yards per route run. That ranks him alongside Drake London, DK Metcalf, and Garrett Wilson. To be alongside three stars speaks volumes of how productive he has been.

The strong self-belief has always been there. Even when he struggled to get the ball in Chicago and became somewhat ostracized in a disoriented offense, he always played with a point to prove filled with confidence. When speaking to him after the Falcons' comeback win in Philadelphia, our interview started by discussing staying composed in difficult moments when things aren't going his way. Possessing mental fortitude is pivotal toward prospering in the NFL, especially as a player who entered the league where many doubted he could develop into a contributor, let alone a starter.

From speaking further with Mooney, he was vocal about the positive environment in Atlanta. He praised Zac Robinson for allowing him to be more creative and utilize his strengths better. To play with and learn from someone as battle-tested as Cousins has been exponential in his growth. The star quarterback's influence is helping him grow into a leadership role, where Raheem Morris acknowledged his cerebral style and tremendous attention to detail.

There is a genuine purpose to Mooney's growth. It takes more than using your greatest attributes to produce highlight-reel moments. It takes full dedication to building a strong rapport with the starting quarterback and connecting with teammates to help enhance their respective games. That's how you become an indispensable player on a team destined to play meaningful football in January.