Cowboys 'Mystery' Trade Keys 'Surprising Lock' in 53-Man Roster Projection
Around here, the Dallas Cowboys have become known for their "dart throws" on players, but there's a problem: often, that dart doesn't get thrown.
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Trey Lance first brought this to the forefront, with the Cowboys sending a fourth-round pick to the San Francisco 49ers, in the hope they could see some improvement in the former first-round pick.
But there was a problem - Lance didn't get a shot.
Whether that was because he wasn't good enough or Dallas didn't want to, the franchise traded a pick for a player who barely saw the field.
Now we have receiver Jonathan Mingo, who, like Lance, was a trade for a fourth-round pick, and last season, as part of Mike McCarthy's offense, he totaled just five catches for 42 yards.
But now that Brian Schottenheimer is in the big chair, Mingo looks like he will be part of the 2025 furniture. However, will this dart be thrown?
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The Athletic's Jon Machota thinks it nearly has to.
"Some might question why Jonathan Mingo is basically considered a lock," Machota wrote. "Regardless of how Mingo performs over the next couple months, the Cowboys gave up a fourth-round pick in November for him. It would be very surprising if he wasn't on the 53."
New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson (21) breaks up a pass intended for Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jonathan Mingo (81) during the first half at AT&T Stadium.Chris Jones-Imagn Images
Our Mike Fisher is terming Mingo's get "the Mystery Trade'' because ...
Much like Lance, Mingo has to be given a shot to show what he can do.
The big question is, will he?
George Pickens, CeeDee Lamb, Jalen Tolbert, and you could even include KaVontae Turpin in there as well, as players above Mingo in the depth chart.
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Lamb and Pickens will see the majority of the targets, so too Jake Ferguson, so Mingo will have a tough time getting ample opportunities in games.
However, that won't matter for the Cowboys, because one thing the franchise struggles with is admitting they were wrong.
We aren't saying the franchise was wrong in the trade for Mingo, but if he doesn't get a serious look in this season, it will be considered another waste of a fourth-round pick.
Putting it simply, my friends, whether we like it or not, this is one dart that has to be thrown by Schottenheimer. ... and a "mystery'' that needs to get solved.
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Related: Cowboys Source Issues Three-Word Truth On Diggs Rumors
Related: Jerry Jones Says What in Cowboys Netflix Docuseries?!
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
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