FRISCO — The Dallas Cowboys decided to remind their fans and national NFL audience of their "all in" intentions for this season with a move before this week's NFL trade deadline.
Dallas traded for Carolina Panthers receiver Jonathan Mingo, adding another element to a wide receiver room that has lacked the firepower to supplement star pass catcher CeeDee Lamb.
The acquisition of Mingo itself - purely in terms of him as a prospect - is not a bad move for the Cowboys. They have decided to foster competition in the receivers room by adding another young piece.
But it is certainly a gamble and one the team has seemingly overpaid for given Mingo's 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? (Hint: Nah.)
The truth is clear for the rest of the NFL to see, and according to Robert Griffin III, many around the league are taking note.
"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."
Mingo himself has not impressed at all this season. 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.
And again, while RGIII is missing the boat about the reason (it has very little to do with 2024) ... For the Cowboys, if he was viewed as impactful? The deal could have made an impact four months ago or before their season spiraled into tumult because of an overall lack of talent and injury woes. Or, if he is viewed as a prospect (which is the truth)? Heck, Carolina sure wouldn't have asked for more in a trade next April.
Now, they are down to their second-string quarterback while sitting at a 3-5 record. Barring a miraculous transformation of Mingo's game, this trade - surely in the eyes of other NFL execs - has the makings of another Cowboys' blunder.
