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Trying to understand what Jerry Jones is thinking can be pretty confusing. It’s like trying to guess why the Dallas Cowboys traded for Jonathan Mingo. People think it might be a desperate move.
The trade isn’t about this year but future seasons.
Pro Football Talk says it’s all about 2025 and 2026, not 2024. They’re treating Mingo as a project, not an immediate fix.
For the Cowboys, the trade for WR Jonathan Mingo isn't about 2024. It's about acquiring low-cost talent for 2025 and 2026, in order to balance out the Dak, CeeDee, Micah deals. https://t.co/CuBd2Lhpqm
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 6, 2024
Sounds pretty silly, right? You can’t say you’re “all-in” by planning for years down the line. That’s not what “all-in” means. This “low-cost” excuse hides how lazy Jones was in making real moves. There were other cheaper options that could help now and later.
Take Tyler Boyd, for example. His contract is cheaper than Mingo’s, and he’s proven himself on the field. If he played well with the Cowboys, he might have been a great re-signing option for future seasons.
Jerry Jones seems lost, searching in all the wrong places for answers. He hasn’t done much to benefit the team this year except extend some contracts. Sure, he signed CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott to long-term deals, but what else has he done?
He missed opportunities at the trade deadline when bargains were everywhere. Marshon Lattimore was the priciest acquisition, but there were better moves Jones could’ve made if he wanted to.
Jones is too focused on finances because he knows he must pay Micah Parsons soon. While managing money is important, ignoring talent leads to situations like this.
Trading for Mingo didn’t even get them the best receiver available. Last season, Mingo barely hit 400 receiving yards; this season, he’s just over 100 yards with no touchdowns yet.
Does this deal scream long-term solution? Nope. It feels more like Jones covering his tracks so he can claim he made a move.
Not all trades are equal, and defending the Mingo deal is pointless. Doing nothing would’ve been better than this trade.
Maybe Mingo will surprise everyone and become a solid No. 2 option next to Lamb. But chances are, we’ll look back and see this as another one of Jones’ failed deals that didn’t work out as planned.
