Once the Carolina Panthers drafted Bryce Young, they targeted receiver talent to build out their rookie class. With the 38th overall pick, they drafted Jonathan Mingo from Ole Miss. Mingo was lauded as a traditional X-receiver in the pre-draft process. Seen as a player who could win contested catches, his biggest flaw was his ability to separate. How did those traits translate in his first NFL season?
Carolina Panthers Rookie Recap: Jonathan Mingo
Minimal Pass Game Impact
While Carolina Panthers rookie Jonathan Mingo was running plenty of routes, he played a minimal role in the passing game. Mingo was the second most utilized pass-catcher, running 539 routes, behind only Adam Thielen. He was targeted on 83 of those routes and caught only 43 catches for 418 yards.
He particularly struggled against man coverage. In his 21 targets against man, he caught only eight catches, per PFF. That said, he was more efficient on receptions against man coverage, averaging over 13 yards per catch compared to just nine yards per catch against zone.
This is unfortunately not surprising given the development Mingo still needs to make as a route runner. He is often unable to gain separation against defenders and at times lacks detail on direction changes.
In fairness, there were plenty of examples of Mingo getting open where he either was not schemed as the first read, or Bryce Young was already evading pressure by the time the route developed. Additionally, there were times when the offensive design led Mingo to occupy the same portion of the field as multiple other receivers, complicating his ability to shake off defenders.
That said, some of Mingo’s best work was in the play-action game, where he faked out defenders and leaked out into the secondary wide open. How was he able to accomplish this?
Surprisingly Beneficial in the Run Game
Mingo’s receiving snaps hide the fact that the Carolina Panthers rookie receiver played an important role in the run game. Rookie wide receivers are expected to struggle against the run, but Mingo displayed toughness and intelligence throughout the season when run blocking.
His Week 13 performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers displayed his talent. During that game, Mingo consistently bodied linebackers and defensive backs, immediately getting advantageous angles on them. At times, his block was the key one allowing the Panthers to gain positive yards. This was especially impressive coming against one of the toughest run defenses in the league.
The advanced stats support Mingo’s impact on the run game. According to PFF, he was the eighth-best run blocker among receivers who ran at least 100 run-blocking snaps. Among rookies, he was third, behind only Puka Nacua and Jake Bobo. As for the Panthers, he was the best run-blocking receiver and the third best run-blocker overall, meaning he scored higher than most of the Panthers linemen.
Where Does Jonathan Mingo Sit After His Rookie Year?
Importantly, Mingo’s run game prowess will keep him involved in the offense while he develops as a route runner. He has already displayed an ability to translate those skills into tricking defenders into defending the run and then leaking out for a wide-open catch.
Now, he needs to expand and detail his route tree to become a more versatile threat for Bryce Young. Perhaps the addition of new pass-catching talent will take the attention off of Mingo, giving him chances to thrive.
Main Photo: Morgan Tencza-USA TODAY Sports
