Falcons Banking on Former Alabama High School Star Darnell Mooney

The Atlanta Falcons are counting on former Alabama high school star Darnell Mooney to deliver on his three-year, $39 million contract. The financial landscape for wide receivers has shifted dramatically this offseason, making Mooney’s deal appear modest in comparison to some of the record-setting contracts. Amari Cooper of the Cleveland Browns, once the only $20-million-a-season wide receiver, now finds himself feeling underpaid.

Mooney's contract, which ranks him 25th among NFL wide receivers in terms of value and 23rd for the 2024 season’s pay at $17.51 million, places significant expectations on his performance. Over the past two seasons, Mooney’s 71 receptions for 907 yards and three touchdowns were outpaced by 57 other wide receivers in the league.

The former standout from Gadsden City High School was a fifth-round pick from Tulane in the 2020 NFL Draft. During his rookie season with the Chicago Bears, Mooney posted impressive stats with 61 receptions for 631 yards and four touchdowns, followed by 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns in 2021. However, his targets dropped from 238 in his first two seasons to 122 over the past two years.

Reflecting on his time with the Bears, Mooney said, “Everything’s a learning curve in life, so just a learning experience. Obviously, there was change, and I don’t really try to worry about the past. I worry about what’s now.”

Mooney is eager to prove his worth on the field rather than talk about it. “I don’t even want to speak about what I’m going to do. I just want to go out there and prove it,” he said. He is confident that the Falcons’ new playbook, quarterback, and offensive style will benefit the team’s wide receivers.

The NFL’s spending spree on wide receivers this offseason, according to Mooney, reflects a premium on “experience.” He explained, “When you have somebody that’s already been doing it in the league, they have that confidence... Once that confidence is there, you’re good to go.”

In 2023, Atlanta’s wide receiver corps was led solely by Drake London, who had 69 receptions for 905 yards and two touchdowns. The Falcons have since bolstered their lineup, with Mooney and Rondale Moore, who had 40 receptions for 353 yards and one touchdown last season, being key additions.

Falcons wide-receivers coach Ike Hilliard praised Mooney’s skills, noting, “He’s a down-the-field player, yards-per-catch guy. He’s an excellent route runner. He’s very, very instinctive. Great hands. Great after the catch. I think you’re going to see some unique routes from him that you haven’t seen in years past.”

The upgraded wide-receiver lineup is just one element of the Falcons' strategy to enhance their offense in 2024. Last season, Atlanta ranked 26th in points, yards, and passing touchdowns among the NFL’s 32 teams. The team has since welcomed a new head coach, Raheem Morris, offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, and quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Cousins, who threw 18 touchdown passes in just eight games for the Minnesota Vikings last season, emphasized the importance of winning. “Winning is what it’s all about,” he said. “Even in recruiting Darnell Mooney to come here, his answer is: ‘I just want to win.’ And I said, ‘Well, we’re on the same page.’”

Having faced Mooney twice a year in the NFC North, Cousins vouched for him to the Falcons’ front office. “They said, ‘We’re close,’” Cousins recalled. “And I said, ‘Well, let me call him.’ This guy’s the real deal.”

Cousins expressed his excitement about Mooney joining the Falcons, saying, “Mooney has incredible movement skills. Great hands. Football matters to him. There’s an intense intent to his work that you don’t see very often in players.”

Mooney’s impressive high school career at Gadsden City earned him All-State recognition in 2015, with 37 catches for 697 yards and nine touchdowns, alongside four special teams touchdowns. His college career at Tulane saw him rack up 154 receptions for 2,572 yards and 19 touchdowns.

The Falcons are set to begin training camp on July 24 at their facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia. Their preseason opener is against the Miami Dolphins on August 9, and they kick off the regular season on September 8 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.