Falcons release Darnell Mooney to free cap space
Mooney’s release removes a major cap hit from the books, as he was set to count roughly $18.4 million against the cap in 2026 and had no guaranteed money left.
Atlanta still takes on dead money, but the savings create breathing room for a roster that has several needs and not many long term options at wide receiver beyond London.
Report: Falcons To Release Darnell Mooney, Giving Steelers Another Free Agent WR Option #Steelers #NFL #Pittsburgh https://t.co/cIyromU80q
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) March 5, 2026
Mooney’s production also slid hard, going from a near 1,000-yard season in 2024 to 443 yards and one touchdown in 2025, which made the price tag tough to justify.
Ian Cunningham’s combine message looks louder now
At the combine, Cunningham talked openly about wide receiver being a premium spot and the Falcons doing their homework on the draft class.
Now Mooney is gone and the receiver room looks thin, which makes that comment feel like a warning shot.
Atlanta may not be shopping at the top of the free agent market, so the most realistic path is stacking young receivers through the 2026 NFL Draft and finding value additions, all while keeping enough flexibility to handle London’s upcoming extension talks.
In no circumstances the Falcons regime could justify keeping Darnell Mooney around with the lack of production with the price tag of 18M. Especially when you have Drake London's contract extension pending at some point.
— (Mad) Mike Luciano! (@MadMikeSports) March 5, 2026
IMO - couldn't come fast enough. pic.twitter.com/RGrPAlNHDk
Mooney should not be unemployed for long.
Even coming off a down year, he still offers speed and alignment versatility, and he could make sense as a shorter-term bet for a team looking for a field stretcher, with the Washington Commanders being one of the logical fits being floated as teams start building their free agency boards.
Photo Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
