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What's Cowboys Surprise Trade-Related Move for 'MNF'?

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Mike Fisher | Last updated Nov 18, 2024 10:38 AM ET

ARLINGTON - The Dallas Cowboys' latest version of "All In''? At the recent trade deadline, Dallas acquired Carolina Panthers receiver Jonathan Mingo.

Our reality? The acquisition of Mingo itself is not a bad move for the Cowboys as long as it is understood that he's a raw prospect who was once highly-thought of ... and has yet to accomplish anything in his two NFL seasons.

At the same time, Dallas is being ripped for having overpaid for Mingo given his lacking production in the early stages of his NFL career. Dallas traded a fourth-round pick to the Panthers in the deal, more than the price other teams have paid for receivers held in much higher regard.

The Cowboys have their reasons; "cheap contractual control'' and all of that. But who were they bidding against here? Was another team offering a third-rounder for Carolina's fifth-best wideout? (Hint: Nah.)

Robert Griffin III claims the panning of the trade is pretty much universal among NFL brains.

"Every single NFL executive that I talked to told me that it was a bad deal to give up so much to get Jonathan Mingo," he said during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show. "I just don't understand how they're making these moves now that their quarterback is on IR... and think this move in trading for Jonathan Mingo is going to make people believe in what they're doing."

RGIII is missing the boat to some degree. The Mingo move is, again, about future contractual control; he's not here to "fix'' a 3-6 team and he's not here to "make people believe'' anything.

The numbers speak for themselves: In his second season he has a total of 12 grabs for 121 yards in nine games. He also have more fumbles (one) than touchdowns.

But he is about to be thrown onto the field tonight when the Texans visit here for "Monday Night Football.'' Last week, after owner Jerry Jones blabbed on about special "packages'' for the 6-2, 220-pound Mingo vs. Philly? He didn't even dress.

This week, though? Coach Mike McCarthy said Mingo (quoting DLLS) has "been everything we thought he was, can play inside and outside, and has shown vertical juice'' ... and the suggest is that some "surprise'' might be rolled out tonight.

But to the skeptic? We get it ... as "He's everything we thought he was'' might simply mean he looks like Carolina's fifth-best wideout.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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