One of the questions heading into the 2020 NFL Draft was when the Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Pace would take advantage of one of the deepest receiver classes in recent memory and select someone who can fill a need in their offense.
Their answer came about halfway through the final day as they selected Tulane WR Darnell Mooney after trading their sixth-round picks with the Philadelphia Eagles to move up and grab him.
Mooney, one of the fastest wideouts in the draft, gives the Bears a weapon who can take the top off of the defense and will fill the void left by the release of Taylor Gabriel in February.
Here are a few things to know about the newest Bears burner:
1. Mooney ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine
Mooney’s key attribute is of course his speed, and he shouldn’t disappoint when he steps foot on the field. The former Tulane standout ran an official 4.38 40-yard dash, tied for third among all wide receivers who participated, according to Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.
While 40 times aren’t a huge factor in whether or not a player is successful in the NFL, his speed absolutely fills a need in head coach Matt Nagy’s offense.
2. Experts compare him to NFL WR Travis Benjamin
Every player that comes out of the draft has a pro comparison and Mooney is no different. According to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr., Mooney can be best compared to San Francisco 49ers receiver Travis Benjamin.
Benjamin is an eight-year veteran wideout who has developed into a WR3 since coming into the league. He’s been a member of the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Chargers before signing with the 49ers this offseason. His best season came in 2015 with the Browns, when he caught 68 passes for 966 yards and five touchdowns.
If Mooney’s career mirrors Benjamin’s, the Bears will have absolutely hit on this pick. He’s a dependable deep threat who opens up opportunities for other receivers.
3. There are concerns surrounding his frame
One of the biggest knocks on Mooney is his build. According to draft experts, he’s a bit lean and may find it difficult to handle NFL defensive backs in his current state. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote “Mooney has the body type of a kicker with poor muscle definition and play strength.”
Strength and build isn’t everything for a wide receiver, particularly for one who is meant to be a burner. But it could be something to monitor when camp begins later this summer.
4. Mooney is more proud of his route running than his speed
While all of the talk surrounding Mooney is about his speed and how he can add an element to the Bears passing game that’s been missing, don’t sleep on his route-running abilities.
“I think of myself more as a route runner, and having my speed is just a bonus,” he told Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.
Nagy, speaking on the post-draft conference call, would agree. When answering a question posed by Pro Football Weekly’s Arthur Arkush, the Bears coach pointed to Mooney’s route running as a huge part of his game.
“Not only does he have the speed, but here’s a kid that’s an exceptional route runner,” Nagy said. “He has a snap at the top of his routes. He has a great feel.”
Speed is a major asset to any NFL player, but the ability to effectively run routes is what separates (no pun intended) the good receivers from the great.
5. Tulane players have been good to the Bears
The last time the Bears selected a player from the New Orleans university was a running back by the name of Matt Forte back in 2008. Forte quickly became one of the best Bears draft picks since 2000 and is the second-leading rusher in team history, behind Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton.
What does Forte’s success mean for Mooney? Honestly, nothing. Although it’s worth noting Mooney has already reached out to Forte about what it’s like to play in Chicago.
The Bears had an entirely different front office back in 2008 so even the scouting department is different. But it’s never a bad thing when you can trace successful draft picks back to a certain school.
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