Jonathan Mingo’s Role in Dallas Continues to Shrink - Is the Experiment Nearing Its End?
When the Dallas Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick to the Carolina Panthers to bring in Jonathan Mingo, the hope was clear: inject some size, youth, and upside into a wide receiver room that needed depth behind its stars. Mingo, a former second-round pick out of Ole Miss, brought the kind of physical profile that teams covet - 6'2", 220 pounds, with solid athleticism and flashes of playmaking potential. But fast-forward to the tail end of the 2025 regular season, and that upside has yet to materialize in Dallas.
Mingo was active for back-to-back games for the first time this season heading into the Week 15 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings - a small but notable step forward. Unfortunately, his presence on the field didn’t translate into impact.
He logged just seven offensive snaps and ran only two routes, finishing the game with a single reception in garbage time. It was the kind of outing that makes you wonder if the Cowboys are already preparing to move on.
A Numbers Game That Doesn’t Favor Mingo
Let’s look at the usage. Mingo has played just 27 offensive snaps all season.
Of those, only 15 have been passing plays where he actually ran a route. That’s not a sign of a player being gradually worked into the offense - that’s a player on the fringe of the game plan.
And it’s not like he’s been a target when he’s out there. Dak Prescott has thrown his way just once this season.
One target. That tells you everything about where he stands in the pecking order.
Since arriving in Dallas, Mingo has only six catches on 18 targets for 91 yards. That’s a catch rate of 33.3%, which is tough to justify, even in a limited role. And when 25 of those yards came on a meaningless late-game play against Minnesota, it’s hard to argue he’s trending in the right direction.
The Cost of a Missed Swing
Giving up a fourth-round pick for Mingo wasn’t a franchise-altering move, but it was a calculated swing by Jerry Jones to add a potential contributor. That swing has missed - at least so far.
While Mingo is still under contract through the 2026 season, his cap hit is modest - just over $1 million next year. That makes him a low-risk flier for another team in need of wide receiver depth, but it also makes it easy for Dallas to cut bait if they feel the roster spot could be better used elsewhere.
Crowded Room, Limited Opportunities
The Cowboys’ wide receiver room is already fairly defined. CeeDee Lamb remains the alpha - one of the best route runners and playmakers in the league.
George Pickens has carved out a strong complementary role since arriving, and Ryan Flournoy has begun to emerge as a reliable depth option. Add in Kevontae Turpin, who brings unique versatility and explosiveness, and there just isn’t much room left for a player like Mingo - especially one who isn’t contributing on special teams or carving out a niche role.
The Cowboys could look to the draft or free agency to add more firepower at the position, and if that happens, Mingo’s chances of sticking around get even slimmer.
What’s Next for Mingo?
With just a few games left in the regular season and the playoff picture still unsettled, there’s a slim window left for Mingo to make a case for himself. But the clock is ticking.
He’s not just battling for snaps - he’s battling to stay on the roster into 2026. Unless something changes drastically, it’s hard to envision him playing a meaningful role for this team moving forward.
The potential is still there. The size, the tools, the pedigree - those don’t just vanish.
But in Dallas, potential alone isn’t enough. Production matters.
And right now, Mingo just isn’t giving the Cowboys a reason to keep him in the mix.