Carolina Panthers must target high-upside wide receiver from Chicago Bears in free agency

The Carolina Panthers are in urgent need of a boost to their passing game, and time is ticking. The 2023 season witnessed only one reliable threat in the form of an aging Adam Thielen, who started strong but dwindled steadily as the team's dysfunctionality grew. The solution? The Panthers must act fast and sign Darnell […]

Ian Kayanja
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Oct 15, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears wide receiver Darnell Mooney (11) practices before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports
Image via Mike Dinovo-USA TODAY Sports

The Carolina Panthers are in urgent need of a boost to their passing game, and time is ticking.

The 2023 season witnessed only one reliable threat in the form of an aging Adam Thielen, who started strong but dwindled steadily as the team's dysfunctionality grew.

The solution? The Panthers must act fast and sign Darnell Mooney, a speedy wide receiver from the Chicago Bears, during free agency. 

By pairing him up with Bryce Young, they can bring a new level of energy and dynamism to their offense. The Panthers cannot afford to miss this opportunity, and Mooney could well be the missing piece to their puzzle.

Signing Mooney would be a risky bet, being that the 26-year-old has gone through two down seasons, but it should be a bet the Panthers are willing to make. 

Throughout the past two seasons, Mooney has been subject to Justin Fields being his quarterback. Fields has been sporadic and inconsistent. Those are two factors that undoubtedly influenced Mooney's production. 

A to Z Sports' contract and cap experts Josh Queipo and Kyle Dediminicantanio project Mooney to be in the market for a two-year, $16 million deal. That is a number the Panthers can easily afford. He isn't a real threat to get franchise-tagged, as the Chicago Bears are looking to retool after never quite hitting a peak with Fields as the No. 1 quarterback. 

Attempting to sign Mooney would be taking a shot at a depressed asset who, with one or two good seasons, can rebuild his value. 

Young is a quarterback who plays the position like a point guard. He excels in creativity and desperately could use Mooney's speed on the field. It would be a match that makes perfect sense on paper. 

As the Panthers attempt to rebuild the offense, following former head coach Frank Reich's failure, talent at wide receiver is a must. Mooney, despite his struggles in the last two seasons, still has talent. And it should be the Panthers who can help him rediscover himself again. 

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