Per USA Today's Art Stapleton, teams around the league have checked in about trading for Darnell Mooney.
Why He's Drawing Calls
Mooney signed a one-year deal with New York in March worth up to $10 million, but only $1.215 million of that is guaranteed salary, with the Giants on the hook for a $1.785 million signing bonus regardless of what happens next.
That structure makes him relatively cheap to acquire, since any suitor would only owe him the veteran minimum with New York picking up the rest.
Teams have asked Giants if Darnell Mooney is available for trade, per @art_stapleton.
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) August 20, 2026
That math means the Giants would need a solid trade compensation to justify eating the bonus money and moving on from a player who's shown real chemistry with quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Why Now
The Houston Texans lost receiver Jayden Higgins for the season to a torn ACL suffered in joint practice against the Raiders, and Mooney has emerged as a name to watch as a potential replacement.
While teammate Braxton Berrios might seem like the lower-hanging fruit given his prior relationship with Texans GM Nick Caserio, Mooney's skill set is actually a closer match for what Higgins provided in the offense, and he's reportedly the more coveted of the two.
Mooney was just eight yards shy of a 1,000-yard season with Atlanta in 2024 before a rough 2025 saw his numbers dip to 443 yards on 32 catches as the Falcons cycled through quarterbacks.
He arrives in New York looking for a bounce-back, and early signs point to him being the safest bet among Giants receivers to make the final roster.
New York's own receiver room is crowded but not deep beyond a handful of names. Malik Nabers is the clear No. 1, and losing Mooney would thin that group further at a position New York specifically tried to rebuild this offseason.
There's no indication a deal is close, and the Giants would need real compensation to make moving on worthwhile.
