Grading the trade: Dallas Cowboys pull off head-scratching move ahead of NFL trade deadline and why it was pricey

The Dallas Cowboys are 3-5 and Dak Prescott is likely headed to Injured Reserve, which would lead many to believe that the team would be a "seller" at Tuesday's NFL trade deadline. 

But this is the Cowboys. For better or worse, they do things differently. 

That's why the Cowboys trading for WR Jonathan Mingo from the Carolina Panthers was somewhat of a surprise to the NFL world. Mingo, who is under contract through 2026, is headed to Dallas in exchange of a fourth-round draft pick. 

Ultimately, although the Cowboys are "buying" here, this is a move with a focus on the future. The team's front office liked Mingo during the 2023 NFL Draft process and now it gets a chance to develop the young wideout starting now with hopes of cashing in on the move next year. In the meantime, they'll pay him on a rookie deal.

In other words, it's a move that the team is certainly not pulling off in hopes of turning around the 2024 season. 

For his two-year career, Mingo has 55 catches for 539 yards and no touchdowns in Carolina. He's mostly played in a bad situation so far and gets a fresh start in Dallas. 

Grading the trade: C+

The Cowboys shouldn't have made a move in an attempt to save the 2024 NFL season but this is not that, so that's a positive. It's somewhat of a proactive move for the future that gets them a wide receiver they liked during the draft process on a rookie deal.

However, looking at trade compensations around the league for much better players such as Diontae Johnson (who went alongside a sixth-round pick for a fifth-rounder earlier this year), I can't help but think the Cowboys might've overpaid for Mingo. DeAndre Hopkins went for a conditional fifth rounder, Amari Cooper and Davante Adams went to new teams for third-rounders. 

It appears that Mingo went for such a high draft pick due to the fact that he's still under contract for two full seasons and change. 

It's unfair to judge Mingo for his stats at the Panthers given the overall state of the team and what surrounded him. Ultimately, this move puts some pressure on the Cowboys' player development as it will come down to whether or not the Cowboys get something out of him down the road.