A lot of things have gone wrong for the Chicago Bears offense this season. Yet it appears the 2020 draft class has given them reasons for optimism. None more so than wide receiver Darnell Mooney. A 5th round pick out of Tulane, nobody had any expectations for him this season. Especially after the offseason was horribly trimmed down by the COVID-19 pandemic.
That doesn’t appear to have perturbed the rookie. Through his own talent and hard work, he just pulled off an achievement that many wouldn’t have thought possible. In the latest game against the Minnesota Vikings, he made his 46th catch of the season. That breaks the record of 45 held by Harlon Hill set all the way back in 1954. A terrific accomplishment for the skinny kid from Alabama.
The exciting part is what may lay ahead.
Moony has already drawn comparisons to former Eagles sparkplug DeSean Jackson. He certainly has the body type and the electric speed. What stands out even more though is his sharp route running and his strong hands. He doesn’t drop passes. Unusual for a guy his size. The key for the Bears will be finding somebody who can get him the ball down the field. Something Mitch Trubisky and Nick Foles have proven unable to do.
To the credit of the coaching staff, they’ve been finding more creative ways to get him the football in recent weeks. Something he’s taking full advantage of. It is going to be fun watching this offense next season. Especially if Tarik Cohen returns healthy from his torn ACL. Chicago will have two legitimate explosive playmakers.
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Darnell Mooney just broke the Bears WR rookie record for receptions with his 46th. Passes Harlon Hill from 1954.
— Aerodrome (@aerdrcmefi) December 20, 2020
Darnell Mooney furthers another streak as well
GM Ryan Pace has been under the gun for the better part of a year because of how the Bears have performed offensively. One thing that can’t be denied though? His work in the later rounds of the draft remains exemplary. It started with Adrian Amos in 2015, then it continued with the likes of Nick Kwiatkoski, Jordan Howard, Eddie Jackson, Cohen, Bilal Nichols, and finally Mooney. All of them take in the 4th or 5th rounds. A truly impressive run of success.
Nichols has really come into his own this year. Not only is he still a force against the run, but his pass rush skills have also really begun to blossom. The Bears may have themselves another mainstay on their defensive line for years to come. Mooney is already off to a great start and didn’t even get a proper offseason to prepare. There is no telling how much better he can get.
The Bears must make sure they get the right people to find out.
Will one of those people be Matt Nagy? The head coach is fighting for his life right now. After watching his team fall to 5-7 after a 5-1 start, the Bears have battled back to 7-7 with two impressive wins over Houston and Minnesota. It would be quite something if he somehow found a way into the playoffs despite all that has happened.