When the Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick at last season’s NFL trade deadline to Carolina for receiver Jonathan Mingo, the team was widely ridiculed. Much better receivers–DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Davante Adams–had been moved before the deadline at relatively cheap prices. But a fourth rounder for Mingo seemed excessive.
The counterpoint was that Mingo was a high-upside young player, who had been a second-round pick in 2023, and that a fourth-round pick might actually be a bargain if he could only stay healthy and put in the work to improve.
But in a year-and-a-half in Dallas, he has done neither. Mingo played in eight games last season, making just five catches on 16 targets, tallying 46 yards receiving. During training camp, he was considered a contender to be the team’s WR2 this season before the acquisition of George Pickens. Instead, however, Mingo has not played here in 2025.
Jonathan Mingo Coming Back From Knee Injury
To be fair, Mingo has not been healthy. He suffered a right PCL strain in the preseason and needed to be put on the injured reserve, forcing him to miss the first four games. Now, though, the Cowboys have three weeks to get him back on the field. He started practicing on October 1, and that means he must be activated in 21 days.
Coach Brian Schottenheimer said, when Mingo returned to practice, “I’m just excited to have Jonathan out there again. I know he’s really excited. He has not played football in a while but, you know, I know he’s really, really excited, so we’ll see how he does. … He’s been working incredibly hard in the classroom, spending time with the walkthroughs and things like that.
Cowboys Don’t Have Room
But where? The Cowboys are expecting CeeDee Lamb back from his ankle injury, and Pickens has been outstanding with the Cowboys. KaVontae Turpin is likely to be back in Week 7, and Ryan Flournoy had a breakout game in Week 5 (six catches, 114 yards).
Jalen Tolbert is still hanging around on the roster, with 10 catches and 101 yards on the season.
Cowboys Could Be Forced Into WR Deal
Considering all that, USA Today’s Cowboys Wire suggests that the Cowboys will need to find room for Mingo by trading a wide receiver. Mingo could be a trade flip himself, but there is sure to be no market for him.
The next-best thing: Move Tolbert.
“It’s possible the Cowboys could open a roster spot for Mingo via trade. A free agent in 2026, Tolbert seems like the most disposable and tradeable asset of the group in Dallas. Despite his disappointing start to 2025, Tolbert still has value after his breakout season a year before. He gives the Cowboys useful depth right now but if Lamb and Turpin return in Week 7 as expected, Dallas could probably afford to trade him and essentially replace Tolbert on the depth chart with Mingo.”
It’s not ideal. But the Cowboys might not have many other choices.
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