How the Cowboys’ Jonathan Mingo trade package compares to other WR trades this season

The Dallas Cowboys made a move before Tuesday's trade deadline when it acquired Carolina Panthers receiver Jonathan Mingo . Dallas received Mingo and a 2025 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2025-fourth rounder.

Mingo was drafted 39th overall in the 2023 draft, but hasn't worked out with Carolina. He has 12 catches for 121 yards this season after catching 43 passes for 418 yards as a rookie. He's not the first receiver that's been traded over the past few weeks, but he may be the priciest based on his NFL production.

Carolina traded its top receiver Dionte Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens last week. The Panthers sent him and a sixth-round pick for the Ravens' 2025 fifth-rounder. Johnson had 30 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns in the seven games before he was traded. He was also a Pro Bowler in 2021 after catching 107 passes for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns.

Deandre Hopkins was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a 2025 fifth that could turn into a fourth-rounder. Hopkins had 15 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown this season with the Tennessee Titans. He also caught 75 passes for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns with Tennessee in 2023. Not to mention he's a three-time first-team All-Pro.

The Buffalo Bills traded for Dallas' familiar friend Amari Cooper a few weeks back. The Bills coughed up a 2025 third-rounder for Cooper, who had over 1,000 receiving yards in seven of his first nine seasons.

Davante Adams also went to the New York Jets for a third-rounder that could turn into a second. Adams had a down season in 2023, catching 103 passes for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns. For his standards, yes, that's a down season.

That takes us back to Mingo. The only things he has over the four receivers I just mentioned is age and contract. He's 23, none of those receivers are younger than 28. Mingo makes less than $7 million combined over the next 2.5 seasons.

As Pro Football Focus' John Owning pointed out , Mingo hasn't played well in his first two NFL seasons. PFF ranks him in the lowest percentile of receiving grade and receiving grade vs single coverage. While he has the age and contract advantage on the receivers who were traded for a similar price, Mingo has shown far less talent and production.

It's now the second straight season Dallas traded away its fourth-rounder. The Cowboys used their 2024 fourth on quarterback Trey Lance, who the San Francisco 49ers benched after trading three first-rounders to draft him third overall in 2021.

That brings up the second interesting part of this trade. Dallas has constantly made great draft picks in the fourth round over the years. Jake Ferugson (2022), Tyler Biadasz (2020), Tony Pollard (2019), Dorance Armstrong (2018), Dalton Schultz (2018) and Dak Prescott (2016) were all fourth-round picks.

Jones mentioned that the Cowboys were a fan of Mingo before the 2023 draft, so maybe they still see that despite his struggles. With CeeDee Lamb and Brandin Cooks injured Dallas needed some help in the receiving corps. Only time will tell if Mingo is the one who can boost the position.