The Atlanta Falcons are planning to release wide receiver Darnell Mooney ahead of the start of the new NFL league year, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media. The move would make Mooney one of the more notable players to enter the free agent market in the coming days, though the Falcons may first test the waters to see whether any team has interest in acquiring him via trade before the release becomes official.
Cap implications make a trade unlikely
Mooney is scheduled to carry a cap number of $18.42 million for the upcoming season, a figure that figures to make trade interest difficult to generate. If the Falcons proceed with an outright release, they would absorb $11 million in dead money against the cap. However, the team does have the option to designate Mooney as a post-June 1 cut, which would clear nearly $12 million in cap space. The trade-off with that approach is that the Falcons would not be able to immediately use those savings, as the financial relief would not kick in until after that date on the calendar.
A promising start that faded in year two
Mooney joined the Falcons ahead of the 2024 season and made a solid first impression, hauling in 64 catches for 992 yards in his debut year with the team. That performance suggested he could be a reliable contributor in Atlanta’s offense going forward, but the 2025 season told a very different story. His production fell sharply, finishing the year with just 32 catches for 443 yards, roughly half the output he had managed the year before.
That kind of decline, paired with one of the higher cap numbers at his position, made it increasingly difficult for the Falcons to justify keeping him on the roster heading into a new league year where cap flexibility matters considerably.
Mooney likely to draw interest on the open market
Despite the underwhelming 2025 campaign, Mooney is still only 27 years old and has demonstrated throughout his NFL career that he is capable of producing at a high level when given the opportunity. He spent five seasons with the Chicago Bears before joining Atlanta, and his best year with Chicago saw him post 81 catches for 1,055 yards back in 2021. Teams looking for a proven receiver with upside at a manageable price point on a new deal could find him an appealing option once he clears waivers and hits the open market.
For the Falcons, the move reflects the kind of difficult roster and financial decisions teams across the league are navigating as the new league year approaches. Atlanta will now look to redirect its resources elsewhere as it builds out a roster capable of competing in what remains a challenging NFC South division.