n a bold midseason move, the Dallas Cowboys have acquired wide receiver Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a 2025 fourth-round pick, according to ESPN sources. The Cowboys, dealing with a 3-5 record and an injured franchise quarterback, are banking on Mingo, a 23-year-old with untapped potential, to help lift a struggling offense and revitalize their season.
Mingo, drafted in the second round of the 2023 draft by Carolina, has logged 55 receptions for 539 yards across 24 games but has yet to find the end zone. This season, he’s caught 12 passes for 121 yards, a modest stat line that belies his potential as a playmaker. Owner and GM Jerry Jones was high on Mingo in the 2023 draft, viewing him as a top-50 prospect, and sees this trade as a chance to invest in his future while filling an immediate need on the field.
The Cowboys’ recent performance has been shaky at best. Their defense has shown glaring weaknesses, and with an injury-ridden quarterback lineup, they’ve stumbled to third place in the NFC East, trailing the Philadelphia Eagles by four games. Week 9’s 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons only added fuel to the fire, as the Cowboys find themselves barely above the Giants in the division standings.
This trade adds some firepower, but Jones faces criticism on multiple fronts. As pressure mounts, critics in the NFL sphere have questioned his dual role as owner and GM, with some suggesting his focus on profit and publicity has overshadowed the team’s pursuit of a championship. “The game has passed him by,” one agent told The Athletic, citing Jones’ lack of focus on winning as a hindrance to the Cowboys’ success.
The schedule only intensifies for Dallas, as they face the 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles next week, followed by matchups with the Commanders, Texans, and Buccaneers. Without their star quarterback, every game ahead will be an uphill battle. Jones and the Cowboys will hope Mingo’s fresh energy can spark a turnaround, but with their postseason hopes fading, this trade may be too little, too late.
The Cowboys may still have a shot, but with the NFC East race heating up and their backs against the wall, the stakes have never been higher for “America’s Team.”
