Although the Cowboys were not entirely silent during this spring’s free agency, the team, which ended the 2024 season with a 7-10 record, still has much to address. They made several significant additions through free agency and trades, and also managed to retain some key depth players. However, for the Cowboys to find success in 2025, certain players need to elevate their performance. Continuing the Next Man Up series, we’ll focus on wide receiver Jonathan Mingo.
Jonathan Mingo is a wide receiver with two years of experience, having played in 32 games with 20 starts. He has two years remaining on his contract and was acquired via trade. A notable statistic from 2023 is his 15 first downs.
In the past, Mingo aimed to justify the Panthers’ decision to use a second-round pick on him from Ole Miss in 2023. Despite playing for a struggling Panthers team during his rookie year, he managed over 400 yards, 15 first downs in 14 starts, and averaged 9.7 yards per catch. His lack of touchdowns could largely be blamed on rookie quarterback Bryce Young, who had a challenging season with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions over 16 games.
Currently, the Cowboys must have seen potential in Mingo to trade a fourth-round pick in 2025 for him just before the 2024 trade deadline. However, his start with the Cowboys has been shaky, primarily due to inconsistent quarterback performance from Cooper Rush. Despite Mingo’s ability to create separation and run precise routes, poor passes often hindered his performance.
Looking ahead, Mingo will attend his first Cowboys training camp in Oxnard, where he’ll work with Dak Prescott, a former NFL MVP runner-up and All-Pro quarterback. With changes in the backup quarterback lineup—Rush now in Baltimore, Trey Lance with the Chargers, and Joe Milton joining Dallas via trade—it will be intriguing to see if Milton can build rapport with the quarterbacks. The Cowboys need a consistent and dynamic partner for CeeDee Lamb, and if they also draft an “explosive” receiver this year, Mingo will face increased competition and have even more to prove.
