Jonathan Mingo 'blindsided' by trade to Cowboys, evaluates fit in Dallas offense

Jonathan Mingo admitted Thursday he was “blindsided” by the trade which sent him from the Carolina Panthers (2-7) to the Dallas Cowboys (3-5) ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline.

Mingo said he had just woken up and was awaiting a food delivery to his home before Panthers general manager Dan Morgan called him to notify him of the trade.

“It kind of blindsided me, because my agent told me he didn’t think anything was going to happen. Slim chance,” Mingo said, via the Cowboys’ official website. “So that slim chance happened. I’m happy to be a Cowboy, fresh start for me, new beginnings, God put me here for a reason.”

The Cowboys acquired Mingo and a 2025 seventh round pick from the Panthers in exchange for a 2025 fourth round pick. The acquisition of Mingo came just minutes after team owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that Dallas would likely trade for a receiver ahead of the trade deadline.

Jones revealed the wideout to be somebody they previously considered drafting, and that player turned out to be Mingo, who went 39th overall in last year’s NFL Draft out of Ole Miss. Mingo went to Carolina 19 picks before the Cowboys selected tight end Luke Schoonmaker.

Cowboys giving Jonathan Mingo fresh start after underperformance in Carolina

The Cowboys believe Mingo has all the tools to be a productive receiver, and he’ll get a fresh start in Dallas after an underwhelming start to his career in Carolina. Mingo hauled in 43 receptions for 418 yards last season. He has just 12 catches for 121 yards nine games into the 2024 campaign. Mingo has yet to record his first career touchdown.

Among the 72 receivers with at least 50 receptions since the start of last season, Mingo is last in yards (539) and catch rate (49.5%) and 71st in yards per route run (0.75), via The 33rd Team. Mingo’s last catch, a one-yard gain, came in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons (6-3).

“There are things I felt like I could’ve done better. Just trying to be more consistent [in Carolina], trying to prove to them what I can be,” Mingo said. “[The Panthers] got me out of there so it is what it is, I’m here now so I can prove to people what I can do and show them the best version of me.”