Off his resume alone, veteran receiver Darnell Mooney checks every box the New York Giants should have had this offseason.
Mooney, who turns 29 in October, has started 80 games since entering the league in 2020. He’s a durable weapon who crossed 1,000 yards once and came eight yards shy of doing it again in 2024.
Add in Malik Nabers’ ongoing rehab from last year’s knee injury and Darius Slayton’s sports hernia surgery, and it’d be fair to believe Mooney will have a fine 2026 campaign.
The Athletic’s Dan Duggan wants fans to temper their expectations, and in a big way.
Darnell Mooney may not emerge as the Giants’ next big-time weapon
In a mailbag published Friday, Duggan addressed how the Giants’ various receiver additions will impact Slayton, who is now their longest-tenured player. Not only did the Giants sign Mooney, but they also brought in former Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III and drafted Notre Dame standout Malachi Fields.
Although Slayton is not participating in organized team activities, the belief is that he will be ready for training camp. The 29-year-old Slayton is coming off his fewest catches and receiving yards since 2021. Last year marked the first time that he’s caught just one touchdown.
“Slayton has been counted out numerous times, and he seems to be at his best in those situations,” Duggan wrote.
Duggan predicted that Slayton would finish second behind Nabers in receiving yards. It remains unclear whether Nabers will be ready for the Sept. 13 opener against the Cowboys.
Duggan called Mooney’s career “volatile,” and we certainly understand his perspective. Only twice in the last five years has Mooney even exceeded 500 receiving yards.
Blaming those numbers on Mooney catching passes from Justin Fields and Michael Penix Jr. isn’t entirely fair or accurate, especially not when Mooney — much like Slayton — has regularly struggled with drops.
Because they only guaranteed him $3 million, the Giants can afford for Mooney to be a backup receiver who is good for two or three catches per game.
However, fans going into the season with such a mindset means having reduced faith in Mooney.
Mooney is on a prove-it deal with a new team, and he should be more than motivated to take advantage of Nabers’ and Slayton’s injuries. There’s no reason to think he won’t have the ball coming his way early and often throughout training camp.
John Harbaugh and Matt Nagy have been around long enough to know contracts and resumes don’t always matter. If Mooney and Jaxson Dart click this summer, they’ll definitely have the opportunity to prove that connection will carry into the regular season.
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