The Chicago Bears will have a few difficult decisions to make in the coming weeks regarding the team's pending free agents who's contracts are set to expire on Monday.

While some players would be better off elsewhere in 2024, a few could have a shot at re-signing with the Bears and returning to Chicago next season.

The biggest question mark on the Bears pending free agent list is wide receiver Darnell Mooney. After posting another disappointing season, many fans are ready to move on but would the Bears be better off re-signing him with a new offensive scheme in place in 2024?

Pros to Re-Signing Darnell Mooney

The first pro should be obvious. The Bears are bone thin at the wide receiver position heading into the 2023 season. DJ Moore is locked in as the team's top option but the rest of the position is heavily lacking in overall proven talent.

Mooney failed to impress once again in Year 2 under offensive coordinator Luke Getsy's scheme in 2023 recording just 31 receptions for 414 yards and one score. However, Mooney's production he showed in his first two seasons with the Bears could return under a new offensive coordinator in Shane Waldron.

Waldron's offense with the Seattle Seahawks produced two top wide receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett who each went over 850 receiving yards in 2023. Our own AtoZ Sports cap experts project Mooney will land a two year, $16.0 million in free agency which could be a bargain price for a player who has a close connection in the locker room already established.

Cons to Re-Signing Darnell Mooney

While it'll be nice to retain as many players as possible to keep the overall consistency and comrade in the locker room, it's hard to justify keeping Mooney in 2024 given the overall options at the position. Wide receivers such as Curtis Samuel, Josh Reynolds, D.J. Chark and Tyler Boyd could be available for the Bears to sign in free agency and have a proven track record of consistent play.

It's easy to point toward Getsy's system as the cause for Mooney's regression over the past two seasons but it's hard to solely place the blame on Getsy's offense. The jury is still out whether or not Mooney's regression could have been his own doing in terms of his overall play being capped out. With the current standing of the Bears offense, it could be more favorable to add a new wide receiver to the mix via free agency or the draft.

Mooney also expressed his concerns with the offense in 2023 and if his play continues to disappoint next season after re-signing him, he could once again call the coaching into question. That kind of reaction could be a major distraction that would negatively affect the locker room and may lead to another Chase Claypool situation in Chicago.

My Prediction

I believe the Bears and Mooney should agree to mutually part ways in free agency. Mooney will have multiple teams willing to give him a shot to find some improvement in his career while the Bears can look to bring in a new face.

It's a tough situation for the former 5th round pick who had a promising start to his career in Chicago. Hopefully he can land on his feet with an offensive play-caller who will utilize his skillsets in a more serviceable fashion.

Potential free agent wide receivers who could land with the Chicago Bears

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