‘Buying, not selling’: Dallas Cowboys acquire Carolina Panthers WR Jonathan Mingo

The Dallas Cowboys have lost three games in a row. They’ve lost their starting quarterback for at least four weeks. Despite that, the Cowboys decided to buy before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.

The Cowboys, according to NFL Network, traded a 2025 4th round pick to the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and a 2025 7th round pick. Mingo was a second round pick out of Ole Miss in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Trade! The #Cowboys are acquiring WR Jonathan Mingo and a 2025 seventh-round pick from the #Panthers for a 2025 fourth-round pick, per sources. pic.twitter.com/TQhbRzfTA8

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 5, 2024

Mingo has 12 catches for 121 yards this season and no touchdowns. He had 43 catches for 418 yards and no touchdowns during his rookie season.

Mingo, 23, will have two more years on his contract after this season.

Jones seemingly had a change of tune over the last few weeks when it came to potentially being active at the trade deadline.

A few weeks ago, prior to the team’s loss to San Francisco, Jones went on 105.3 The Fan and asked a rhetorical question.

“First of all, where you going to go to get any players? Seriously?” he said. “Where are you going to go to get any players for next week against San Francisco?”

Later that day, former Pro Bowl wide receivers Davante Adams and Amari Cooper were both dealt. Multiple trades have since followed.

After Sunday’s loss to the Falcons — the third-straight loss for the 3-5 Cowboys — Jones hinted that they could be in the mix before Tuesday’s deadline if a move presented itself.

On Tuesday, hours before the deadline, Jones made it clear that there had been a change in thinking.

Jones said on 105.3 The Fan that the Cowboys were “buying, not selling” before Tuesday’s trade deadline. He then went a step further, saying that the Cowboys were acquiring an unnamed wide receiver specifically via trade.

“I think we can do some things,” Jones said about the potential to improve this season. “We’re going to bring in a receiver today — more than likely today — that we’ve really thought about a lot and thought about drafting, so we’ll get the chance to get him.”

Ultimately, that player was Mingo.

There were plenty of receivers rumored to be potential trade candidates. Some names include Carolina Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen, Patriots wide receivers K.J. Osborn and Tyquan Thornton, and Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton, among others.

The Cowboys are expected to have star wide receiver CeeDee Lamb on Sunday against the Eagles despite hurting his shoulder. The Cowboys could activate veteran Brandin Cooks soon, as well. Behind those two, Mingo will join a crew that includes rookie Ryan Flournoy, second-year receiver Jalen Brooks, and former third-round pick Jalen Tolbert.

The trade deadline is set for Tuesday at 3 p.m. CDT.

More to come.