EAST RUTHERFORD — The John Harbaugh era in New York just gained some serious speed. The Giants officially signed veteran wideout Darnell Mooney to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million on Saturday, as first reported by Ian Rapoport. The move comes just days after the Falcons cut the 28-year-old to avoid an $18.4 million cap hit, making him the newest weapon for second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart.
Replacing Wan’Dale and Reunited with Nagy
New York needed a response after losing star slot receiver Wan’Dale Robinson to the Tennessee Titans earlier this week. While Robinson’s 1,014-yard 2025 campaign left a massive void, Mooney offers a different dimension: pure vertical threat. The move also signals a reunion with Giants offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The two worked together in Chicago, where Mooney produced a career-high 1,055 yards in 2021.
The Giants are betting on a bounce-back. After nearly hitting the 1,000-yard mark again in 2024 with 992 yards and five scores, Mooney’s production fell off a cliff last year. Between a mid-season shoulder injury and the Falcons’ rocky transition to Michael Penix Jr., Mooney finished 2025 with just 32 catches for 443 yards. Now healthy, he joins a crowded but talented room featuring Malik Nabers and the recently added Calvin Austin III.
“I’m ready to run. This offense has so much young juice with Jaxson and Malik. Coach Harbaugh told me we’re going to take the top off defenses, and that’s exactly what I plan to do. The energy in this building is different right now.”
— Darnell Mooney, Giants Wide Receiver
Harbaugh’s Vision for the 2026 Giants
The Giants’ roster looks radically different than it did four months ago. By pairing Mooney’s speed with Malik Nabers’ elite route running, Harbaugh is building a track team to support Jaxson Dart’s development. Dart, who took over as the starter in Week 4 last season, showed flashes of brilliance but often lacked a reliable veteran presence who could win 50-50 balls downfield.
With Isaiah Likely also joining the fold this month and Cam Skattebo returning from an ankle injury, the Giants have successfully built a safety net around their young franchise passer. Expect Nagy to use Mooney in heavy pre-snap motions to clear out the middle of the field for Nabers. The Giants aren’t just looking to compete in the NFC East; they’re rebuilding their identity as a high-octane vertical offense.
