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Todd Archer, ESPN writer
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys acquired wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and a 2025 seventh-round pick from the Carolina Panthers for a 2025 fourth-round pick before Tuesday’s trade deadline.
Mingo, a 2023 second-round pick out of Mississippi, has 12 catches for 121 yards this season. He has one catch in his last four games and only two career games with more than four receptions.
In Carolina, Mingo trailed 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette, undrafted rookie Jalen Coker and 2017 seventh-round pick David Moore despite a hamstring injury suffered by Adam Thielen and the Diontae Johnson trade.
Getting a fourth-round pick for Mingo after sending the Baltimore Ravens a 2025 sixth-round pick and Johnson to Baltimore for a 2025 fifth-round pick last week had to feel like a win for Carolina’s general manager, Dan Morgan, who is trying to rebuild the 2-7 Panthers who appear headed for a seventh straight losing season.
After Sunday’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons dropped Dallas to 3-5, Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones said the team has “some things in the works” for a trade, but he doesn’t expect a successful agreement.
Although he didn’t mention Mingo by name, Jones said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas that the receiver the Cowboys were acquiring was someone they felt very strongly about during the draft process.
In 2018, the Cowboys traded a first-round pick to the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Amari Cooper and saw their season turn around, finishing 10-6, winning the NFC East and a playoff game.
This trade isn’t that, but it gives the Cowboys depth at one position this year and for the future with Mingo under contract for two more seasons.
All-Pro receiver CeeDee Lamb is dealing with a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder, but Mike McCarthy was hopeful he would be able to play Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Brandin Cooks is eligible to start practicing this week, but is expected to continue his rehabilitation from knee surgery.
While Jalen Tolbert (30 catches, 353 yards, three touchdowns) has been productive, the Cowboys’ Nos. 4-6 receivers have combined for 25 catches and a touchdown.
ESPN’s David Newton contributed to this report.
