Panthers trade WR Jonathan Mingo to Cowboys

Jerry Jones“Mystery Wide Receiver is now revealed. The Cowboys will make a deal with the Panthers, who will send Jonathan Mingo to the NFC East team, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

Mingo was considered a player no longer in Carolina's plans, and the 2023 second-rounder had failed to break through in either offensive system in which he played. The Cowboys are targeting a player who was ranked in the top 40 just last year. The Cowboys will add Mingo and a seventh-round pick, while the Panthers will get a fourth-round pick, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweets.

(RELATED: Panthers deal Diontae Johnson to Ravens)

Mingo is mentioned in PFR's overview of the WR trading market and joins Adam Thielen As a player, the Panthers seemed to be doing well. Thielen is staying with Carolina, but it is believed the 34-year-old veteran will land well with a contender. Thielen is under contract until 2025, but is considered a candidate for cuts next year. The Panthers have already dealt two of their WRs; a third would certainly also be interesting for a rebuilding team.

That's a better return than what the Panthers received Diontae Johnsonwho only received a pick swap on Day 3 in the Ravens trade. Signing Mingo through 2026 has undoubtedly helped the Panthers, as the Cowboys will have several years to test the former Ole Miss player.

Mingo entered the NFL as a junior with a time of 4.46 seconds and weighed 220 pounds at the 2023 Combine. ESPN's Scouts Inc. rated Mingo as the No. 37 overall prospect. Mingo only reached more than 300 receiving yards in one of his four Rebels seasons, with 861 yards and five touchdowns in the 2022 season last season. Still, he caught the Panthers' interest last year with the No. 39 overall pick. Despite the acquisition, Carolina had managed to keep No. 39 Bryce Young about trade-up; That decision led to Carolina trading the No. 61 pick to Chicago, which also acquired the Panthers' 2025 second-rounder in the landmark trade.

The Cowboys had made their decision Jalen Tolbert in the third round of 2022 and had traded for it Brandin Cooks just before last year's draft. Cooks is now on IR. Mingo profiles as more of a developmental piece versus one that will immediately reignite the Cowboys Amari Cooper did after a trade during the 2018 season. Mingo has just 12 receptions for 121 yards this season. During a rookie season that was featured France Mingo was released after 11 games and managed 43 catches for 418 yards. He has yet to score an NFL touchdown.

Mingo will now join Tolbert and CeeDee Lamb in Dallas' receiving corps. Meanwhile, Carolina has until 3:00 p.m. CT today to decide on the Thielen trade. It is also possible that Thielen will be released after the deadline, although that is far from certain. The Panthers will be retooling for the rookie first-rounder Xavier Legette and rookie UDFA Jalen Coker.