Cowboys’ Surprising Trade for Jonathan Mingo Leaves Fans Scratching Their Heads**The Dallas Cowboys made a surprising trade just before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline, acquiring wide receiver Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers.
While Dallas had multiple needs they could have addressed, they opted for Mingo, leaving fans puzzled—especially since the team gave up a 2025 fourth-round pick for a receiver who struggled to make an impact in Carolina.Head Coach Mike McCarthy responded to the trade questions on Wednesday, and his explanation only added to the confusion.
According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, McCarthy said the Cowboys relied on their draft scouting and still value the third-round grade they had given Mingo as a prospect. Dallas had hosted Mingo on a top-30 visit in 2023, and McCarthy said he “likes Mingo’s talent,” even though the receiver hasn’t lived up to expectations in the NFL.Fans, however, weren’t buying it.
They were frustrated that Dallas based their decision on an old draft grade rather than Mingo’s NFL performance. Mingo made some noise as a rookie last year, logging 43 receptions for 418 yards. But his sophomore season has been a different story: he managed just 12 receptions for 121 yards in nine games with the Panthers.I
n fact, if you placed Mingo’s current stats on the Cowboys roster, he would rank sixth in receptions and seventh in receiving yards. Many fans believe Dallas would be better off focusing on developing their own young receiver, Jalen Tolbert, who has shown flashes of potential—especially as the team navigates injuries to veteran Brandin Cooks.Despite the criticisms, the Cowboys seem confident that Mingo can bring something fresh to their offense.
McCarthy believes Mingo has untapped potential and could become a playmaker with Dallas. The coming weeks will reveal if this move pays off or if the Cowboys gambled on a player they might have been better off passing on.