Wide Receiver Darnell Mooney Released By Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are cutting ties with Wide Receiver Darnell Mooney, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. And while the move wasn’t exactly a shocker, it still stings a little. But here’s the thing about the NFL: “at his best” doesn’t pay the bills. An $18.4 million cap hit in 2026 sure does, though. And that number is what’s pushing Mooney out the door in Atlanta.
Why the Falcons Are Moving On From Mooney
Mooney was set to carry an $18.4 million cap number heading into the 2026 season, with zero guaranteed money left on his deal. The Falcons, who are not exactly swimming in cap space right now, had a pretty easy decision to make. Keep Mooney and eat a massive cap hit for a receiver who finished 2025 with 32 catches and 443 yards, or cut him and free up significant cash for other needs.
If Atlanta designates him as a post-June 1 release, they’ll clear nearly $12 million in cap space this year. That’s real money. That’s the difference between patching one hole and addressing several. For a team with as many roster gaps as the Falcons currently have, that flexibility matters.
What Happened To Mooney In Atlanta?
When Mooney signed his three-year, $39 million deal with Atlanta back in 2024, it looked like a smart, calculated bet. The Falcons were getting a proven, fast, field-stretching receiver with serious upside. In 2024, he delivered. He posted 64 catches for 992 yards and 5 touchdowns. The offense hummed. Everyone was happy. Then 2025 happened.
Mooney broke his collarbone on the very first day of training camp. Just like that, the momentum was gone. He missed time, came back not quite right, and never really found his footing again. He finished the season with 32 catches, 443 yards, and 1 touchdown. He was targeted 72 times and converted just 44.4% of those looks into completions.
What’s Next For Mooney In Free Agency?
Don’t count Mooney out just yet. He’s only 28 years old, and his career numbers are nothing to sneeze at. Over six NFL seasons split between the Chicago Bears and Atlanta, Mooney has racked up 309 catches, 4,028 yards, and 17 touchdowns. His career yards-per-catch average sits at 13.0, which tells you this guy can still stretch a defense when healthy and properly utilized.
The question isn’t whether Mooney has NFL talent. He does. The question is whether he can find the right fit at a reasonable price.
Several teams could make a push for Mooney on the open market. The Pittsburgh Steelers need a complement to DK Metcalf. The Washington Commanders could use a running mate alongside Terry McLaurin. The Buffalo Bills, despite their cap constraints, need wideout help badly after struggling through 2025 at the position.
Mooney isn’t going to land a deal anywhere close to what he was making in Atlanta. He burned some goodwill with a down year, and free agency is a cold and unsentimental place. But a one-year, prove-it contract with a contender? That’s absolutely on the table.
What the Falcons Do Next At Wide Receiver
Here’s Atlanta’s real problem: releasing Mooney is a solution to a symptom, not the illness. Behind star receiver Drake London, the Falcons’ wide receiver room is basically an empty warehouse. There’s London at the top, and then a bunch of question marks after that.
New GM Ian Cunningham has his work cut out for him this offseason. The Falcons need at least two wide receivers to give Michael Penix Jr. a legitimate group of weapons heading into 2026.
London is locked in and expected to earn a long-term extension. But you cannot win games in this league with one receiver and a lot of hope. The Mooney release is just the first domino. Watch for Atlanta to be very active when the free agency contact period opens Monday.
