Former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney has agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Giants, a league source confirmed to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Mooney is a speed receiver with inside-outside flexibility who played most of his snaps in the slot over his first four NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears before joining the Atlanta Falcons in 2024. He played more on the outside for Atlanta and put up nearly 1,000 yards and was second on the team in targets in 2024. His production fell to 443 yards and one touchdown on 32 catches in 2025, ranking him No. 4 behind Drake London, Kyle Pitts Sr. and Bijan Robinson in Atlanta.
Mooney is a viable WR3 option for the Giants and quarterback Jaxson Dart, and his alignment flexibility provides value. He was not ranked in The Athletic’s top 150 available free agents because he was cut after the 150 was set, but Mooney was graded upon his release and slotted in around the 125 mark.
His most productive season was 2021 with the Bears, when he logged 81 receptions for 1,055 yards and four touchdowns.
Mooney, now 28, was a fifth-round pick by Chicago out of Tulane in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Competition for Darius Slayton
The Mooney signing adds competition for Darius Slayton, who disappointed in the first year of a three-year, $36 million extension last season. Slayton consistently produced 50 catches and 750 yards per season early in his career, but his production dipped to 37 catches for 538 yards last season, while his issues with drops became magnified. There would be no cap savings from dumping Slayton, who has a $16 million cap hit this year, but that doesn’t mean the Giants won’t look to upgrade at the No. 2 receiver spot.
Like Slayton, Mooney is coming off a down season. But his most productive season came with the Bears in 2021 under head coach Matt Nagy, who is now the Giants’ offensive coordinator. The Giants have made modest investments in Mooney and former Steeler Calvin Austin after losing Wan’Dale Robinson to the Titans on a four-year, $70 million contract. It’s clear that the Giants are focused on adding deep threats at receiver with the additions of Mooney and Austin. They should complement the bigger personnel — tight end Isaiah Likely and fullback Pat Ricard — added to the offense earlier in free agency.
The full financial terms haven’t been disclosed, but NFL Network reported that the one-year contract is worth “up to” $10 million. That indicates a contract that is likely incentive-laden. Like Austin, this is a low-risk, potentially high-reward signing. Even at the discount price, the Giants’ cap space is limited despite restructuring outside linebacker Brian Burns’ contract earlier this week. The Giants still have needs at right guard and defensive tackle. They’ll need to make a move to create more cap space unless they’re content to bargain hunt. — Dan Duggan, Giants beat writer