Darnell Mooney of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown
Getty
Darnell Mooney of the Atlanta Falcons scores a touchdown
It may not have looked perfect, but the Atlanta Falcons believed heading into the 2025 season that most of their offense was figured out.
That didn’t quite happen.
Atlanta entered the year with one of the NFL’s premier playmakers in Bijan Robinson, a true WR1 in Drake London, a hopeful resurgent tight end in Kyle Pitts, and second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. expected to take the next step.
Robinson, London and Pitts largely carried their weight. Penix, however, battled inconsistency before an injury ended his season early. He wasn’t the only one who failed to meet expectations. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney also took a step back.
Mooney was coming off a strong 2024 campaign in which he caught 64 passes for 992 yards and five touchdowns. He also led the team with 21 plays of 20-plus yards, nearly doubling London’s 12.
That production dipped significantly in 2025. Mooney finished with just 32 receptions for 443 yards and one touchdown, managing only five plays of 20-plus yards.
Now, with new head coach Kevin Stefanski, general manager Ian Cunningham and president of football Matt Ryan in place, Mooney could emerge as a potential trade candidate.
Seahawks Linked as Potential Trade Partner
If Atlanta is open to moving Mooney, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton believes the Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks should be calling.
“Seattle should inquire about Darnell Mooney, who averaged a career-high 15.5 yards per reception in 2024,” Moton wrote.
“In 2021, Mooney eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards with the Chicago Bears. He’s not a lead wideout, but the 28-year-old doesn’t have to be that alongside rising star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Mooney would fit into a role as a field-stretcher who complements possession wideout Cooper Kupp.”
Moton added that Mooney could provide speed to an offense that may be losing Rashid Shaheed in free agency after acquiring him at the trade deadline.
Mooney signed a three-year, $39 million deal with Atlanta in 2024, making 2026 a pivotal year for both sides. A pre–June 1 trade would save the Falcons $7.42 million while carrying an $11 million dead cap hit. A post–June 1 trade would save $11.42 million, with dead cap hits of $7 million and $4.5 million spread over the next two years, per Spotrac.
Injuries Played a Role in Darnell Mooney’s Regression
With a new regime in place, projecting how things will unfold is difficult. Mooney was a key contributor in his first season with Atlanta, but injuries clearly impacted his second.
He broke his collarbone during training camp in July and later dealt with a hamstring issue midseason.
“The team’s decision to roll him out there with one significant injury and another one that is inherently limiting looked like desperation and blew up in their faces, as Mooney didn’t really produce at the level they needed him to and the team never seriously explored a replacement,” The Falconholic’s Dave Choate wrote.
“I don’t particularly blame Mooney, which is not the same as saying he played well, but that 2025 season leaves his future looking cloudy.”
With cap flexibility in play and a new coaching staff evaluating every piece of the roster, Mooney’s name is one to monitor. Whether Atlanta views him as part of its future or as a movable asset could become clearer as the offseason unfolds.