The Dallas Cowboys traded for Jonathan Mingo, a former second-round pick, just before the NFL trade deadline, and now we know what number he’ll wear in Dallas.
Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones hinted at a potential wide receiver acquisition, and fans speculated on who it might be.
In the end, Dallas traded a fourth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers for Mingo, selected in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Mingo, hoping for a fresh start, will aim to show his raw potential, although some feel the Cowboys may have overpaid for him.
Whether the trade proves successful or not, one thing is clear: Mingo’s jersey number for the Cowboys is set.
Previously wearing No. 15 with the Panthers, Mingo will don No. 81 in Dallas, as Ezekiel Elliott currently wears No. 15. At Ole Miss, Mingo wore No. 1.
Mingo has shown talent but has yet to establish himself in the NFL. With the Panthers, he caught 55 passes for 539 yards over one and a half seasons. The Cowboys considered drafting Mingo in 2023 due to his college success.
At Ole Miss, the 6-foot-2 receiver started all 12 games as a freshman, with 12 receptions for 172 yards and a touchdown. In his sophomore year, he caught 27 passes for 379 yards and three touchdowns.
A foot injury cut short Mingo’s junior year, limiting him to 22 catches for 346 yards and three touchdowns. In his senior season, he earned second-team All-SEC honors, starting all 13 games, scoring five touchdowns, and setting a school record with 247 receiving yards in a game against Vanderbilt.
How Mingo adapts with the Cowboys will be interesting, and his potential is evident. The coaching staff will be key in helping him succeed.
