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The Bears traded up into the fifth round twice, and with the No. 173 overall pick, they took Tulane wide receiver Darnell Mooney.
Mooney was a four-year starter at the collegiate level, and he proved to be a dynamic weapon in Tulane’s offense. Despite subpar quarterback play, he tallied 154 catches, 2,572 yards and 19 touchdowns in his four years there, giving him an average of 16.7 yards per catch. A dynamic speedster with agility after the catch and surprisingly good jump-ball abilities, the 5-foot-10, 176-pound receiver ran a 4.38 40-yard dash at the Combine.
This selection could end up proving to be a great one for the Bears, as they found the speed receiver they needed for their offense on Day 3. He projects well as a ‘Z’ receiver who can fill Taylor Gabriel’s old role with a similar skill set. For more information on the pick, check out my Twitter thread on Mooney:
THREAD: Tulane WR Darnell Mooney is the pick for the #Bears at No. 173, and I think he’s a wide receiver who’s well worth trading up for.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2020
Mooney is an electric athlete who can change direction on a dime. His lateral agility after the catch makes him a dynamic player when placed in space. pic.twitter.com/0TOn2N1Uf3
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2020
Mooney is a burner when he gets into the open field. He hits top speed quickly, as his 4.38 40-yard dash would indicate. pic.twitter.com/VMdqIZPrT2
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2020
Mooney has impressive ball skills and adjusts to the ball very well. His ability to extend and high point the ball is impressive for a smaller wideout. pic.twitter.com/YXJI2u1uCd
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2020
Mooney may only be 5-10 and 176 pounds, but don’t be fooled: he can go up and get the ball. He’s a physical receiver in tight windows and is much better in jump-ball situations than one would expect for his size. pic.twitter.com/MpO9w1AWhs
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2020
Mooney actually reminds me a lot of Taylor Gabriel, which makes him an obvious fit for the #Bears. He’s a speedy receiver who can make contested catches well, too.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) April 25, 2020
I’m a huge fan of this pick. He gives Chicago the athletic spark they needed at WR. pic.twitter.com/ObENBahuJz
What do you think of the selection of Darnell Mooney? Let me know in the comments, or tell me in the replies of the thread above.
We have even more on Darnell Mooney in this mini-podcast from Robert Schmitz, where he’s joined by our Lead Draft Analyst Jacob Infante and our Senior Draft Analyst EJ Snyder.