Falcons give Cousins new target in WR Mooney

The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to sign free agent wide receiver Darnell Mooney to a three-year, $39 million deal, including $26 million fully guaranteed, agents David Mulugheta and AJ Stevens told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Mooney gives the Falcons another offensive playmaker for new quarterback Kirk Cousins, who also has tight end Kyle Pitts, receiver Drake London and running back Bijan Robinson as skill position players with which to work.

Mooney, 26, was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fifth round in 2020. After a breakout season in 2021 in which he totaled 81 catches for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns, with many of his targets coming from then-rookie quarterback Justin Fields, injuries and a regression in play stunted Mooney’s last two seasons in Chicago.

Mooney struggled to fill the Bears’ No. 2 receiver role behind DJ Moore. The 5-foot-11 receiver had a career-low 31 catches for 414 yards and a touchdown in 2023, one season after his 2022 campaign was cut short by an ankle injury.

In 2022, Mooney led the Bears with 493 receiving yards despite being limited to 12 games.

He has 213 catches for 2,593 yards and 11 touchdowns in 60 career games.

ESPN’s Courtney Cronin contributed to this report.