Newly-acquired wide receiver Jonathan Mingo is set to make his Dallas Cowboys debut after the team acquired him in a trade with the Carolina Panthers. Selected with the 39th-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the athletically blessed Mississippi product joined a wide-open depth chart following the D.J. Moore trade. With fellow rookie Bryce Young joining the team simultaneously, Carolina envisioned a future where these two would connect for years to come.
That never happened, as both players failed to reach expectations during their rookie seasons. While Young’s struggles are well-documented, Mingo finished his rookie season with 43 receptions for 418 yards and no touchdowns on 85 targets, making him one of the least efficient receivers in the game. His struggles continued in 2024, as he fell behind rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker while recording just 12 receptions for 121 yards in nine games.
Despite the slow start, the Dallas Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick for his services. With 2+ seasons left on his rookie contract, Jerry Jones believes a change of scenery could bring out the best in the Mississippi product. In a recent interview, Mingo said the trade “blindsided” him but that he’s looking forward to proving himself with the Cowboys.
“It kind of blindsided me, because my agent told me he didn’t think anything was going to happen, slim chance. So that slim chance happened. I’m happy to be a Cowboys, fresh start for me, new beginnings, God put me here for a reason.
Jonathan Mingo “Blindsided” By Cowboys, Panthers Trade
Mingo says that the Panthers weren’t planning on trading him, but that’s probably because they didn’t think they could get a fourth-round pick for his services. It was largely a buyer’s market, as players like Diontae Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins fetched smaller returns than Mingo. While he was a top-40 pick just two seasons ago, he was one of the NFL’s worst receivers since entering the league. Jones doesn’t seem to care, as he has two and a half years to see if Mingo can ever reach his pre-draft potential.
For what it’s worth, Mingo should have the opportunity to prove himself in Dallas. CeeDee Lamb is the unquestioned star of this passing attack, but there is no long-term answer for the WR2 position. Longtime veteran Brandin Cooks is slowing down and will be a free agent at the end of the season, while Jalen Tolbert is nothing more than a solid depth piece. Don’t expect Mingo to do much in 2024, as he must learn an entirely new playbook while catching passes from the underwhelming Cooper Rush. However, when Dak Prescott returns in 2025, Mingo will finally have a chance to show what he can do with solid quarterback play.
The Panthers Pick
The Panthers must be thrilled with what they received in the Jonathan Mingo trade. At the time, Mingo had already fallen behind Legette, Coker, and fourth-round tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders in the pecking order, and he might not have made the team in 2025. Getting anything of value for him has to be encouraging, especially since the Cowboys are in a tailspin.
At 3-6, the Dallas Cowboys have one of the NFL’s worst records, and it’s hard to see it improving. Head coach Mike McCarthy is a dead man walking, and Cooper Rush and backup Trey Lance cannot carry a flawed roster. Lacking the talent and motivation to fight hard and win games, Dallas could easily end up with a top-five or top-10 draft pick. This means Carolina should have the opportunity to land a fringe top-100 prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. While the Mingo pick itself didn’t work out, the Panthers have a realistic opportunity to land a cost-controlled asset for the next four years.
Main Photo: Daniel Bartel – USA Today Sports
