Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has been busy deflecting questions about putting up sun shades at AT&T Stadium, discussing Dak Prescott's health, and hearing the ongoing Cooper Rush vs. Trey Lance debate.
As his team prepares for a tough Week 11 Monday Night Football matchup with the Houston Texans, Jones is surely hoping to give the fanbase something to feel optimistic about. With the Cowboys sitting at 3-6 and their playoff hopes at the lowest point of the season, that potential reason for optimism will be tough to find.
But for Jones's sake, maybe he'll get to quiet the critics of the trade that brought former Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jonathan Mingo to town ahead of the trade deadline.
According to longtime Cowboys reporter Clarence Hill Jr., Mingo will make his debut for the team on Monday night.
The Cowboys traded a fourth-round pick to the Panthers in exchange for Mingo and a seventh-round selection. However, the move came with heavy pushback from the fanbase, media and analysts, as Dallas sent Carolina more for Mingo than they received when previously trading away Amari Cooper.
To add insult to injury, the Kansas City Chiefs acquired DeAndre Hopkins in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick that can become a fourth if the Chiefs reach the Super Bowl and Hopkins plays 60% of the snaps. In short, the Chiefs may have acquired Hopkins for less than what the Cowboys sent the Panthers for an unproven Mingo.
However, some positives come with the addition of Mingo, the No. 39 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. The 23-year-old is only in the second year of his rookie contract, which will only cost the Cowboys just over $1.55 million next season.
Mingo also flashed some upside during his rookie campaign, catching 43 passes for 418 yards, but has been mostly a non-factor this season. Through nine games, he's caught just 12 passes for 121 yards.
With Prescott out for the year due to a hamstring injury, fans would be wise to temper expectations regarding Mingo. But with the Cowboys season spiraling quickly, any production from the team's new wide receiver would be welcomed.
