3 Chicago Bears players who could interest the Detroit Lions between now and the trade deadline

3. WR Darnell Mooney

Mooney's breakthrough 2021 season (81 receptions for 1,055 yards) somehow feels like a lot longer ago, and even his rookie season wasn't too bad (61 receptions). He had just 40 catches for 493 yards and two touchdowns over 12 games last season, and so far this season he has 10 receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown. All of that production has come in three games, and when the Bears scored 40 points against the Washington Commanders in Week 5 he went without a catch on four targets.

It's not a playing time issue for Mooney, as he has played more than 70 percent of the Bears' offensive snaps in five of six games this season. But the connection with Justin Fields has been lacking, now into two seasons (57.9 percent catchable target rate this season, per Player Profiler), with impactful plays too few and too far between for someone of his ability.

A fifth-round pick in 2020, Mooney is in the last year of his contract and making relative pennies this season (less than $3 million base salary). He's an easy trade target for any team who might be in the market for a wide receiver at the deadline (Chiefs, Chargers, etc.).

The Lions got a shining moment out of Jameson Williams in Week 6, with more hopefully to come. But Mooney is an interesting possibility to make a deal for. He sorely needs a change of scenery, as he moves beyond his time with the Bears into the next part of his career, and Detroit might be a nice landing spot for him.