Darnell Mooney Reportedly to Be Cut, How Much Money Will Falcons Save on Salary Cap in Free Agency?

Having already confirmed Kirk Cousins will be released at the start of the new league year, the Atlanta Falcons are set to clear more cap space by cutting Darnell Mooney.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Falcons intend to release the veteran wide receiver who was going to count $18.4 million against their 2026 cap.

Releasing Mooney will save Atlanta $7.4 million in cap space heading into free agency, per Over the Cap. The Falcons currently have $8 million available before factoring in the Cousins and Mooney cuts.

Cousins would seem likely to be designated as a post-June 1 release, which would allow the Falcons to save $2.1 million against the '26 cap. They would lose $10.4 million if he doesn't receive the post-June 1 designation.

Combining the expected savings from Mooney and Cousins will get the Falcons up to $16.5 million in cap space.

There are other levers the Falcons can pull to open up financial flexibility if they choose to do. Jake Matthews, Chris Lindstrom, Jessie Bates III and A.J. Terrell have the top four cap hits on the team, not counting Cousins since he won't be on the roster next week.

The Falcons could create up to $40.6 million if they were to restructure the deals for all four of those players.

Of the many questions facing the Falcons' new regime, led by team president Matt Ryan, general manager Ian Cunningham and head coach Kevin Stefanski, is what their plan is at quarterback for 2026.

They have been cited as a potential landing spot for Kyler Murray after his release with the Arizona Cardinals becomes official. He's expected to sign for the league minimum of $1.3 million since the Cardinals still owe him $36.8 million.

Given the low cost for Murray, though, a lot of teams are likely to be in the mix for his services. The Falcons do have incentive to be extra aggressive in free agency this offseason because they don't own a first-round pick in the 2026 draft after trading it to the Los Angeles Rams last year.

Mooney's release is part of the Falcons' overhaul that has happened since the end of the 2025 season. He signed a three-year, $39 million deal with Atlanta as a free agent in March 2024.

The 28-year-old had a productive stint in Atlanta with 1,435 yards and six touchdowns in 31 games over the past two seasons. He will join a solid crop of free-agent wide receivers that will include Alec Pierce, Rashid Shaheed, Mike Evans and Stefon Diggs.