WR Jonathan Mingo, who was traded by the Panthers last week, is expected to make his Cowboys debut on Monday night.
A former Carolina Panthers wideout is about to hit the reset button on his NFL career.
Jonathan Mingo, now a member of the Dallas Cowboys, is expected to make his team debut this Monday night against the Houston Texans. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the news about the second-year receiver on Thursday afternoon.
McCarthy confirmed that Mingo will play Monday. He said he is been everything they thought he was, can play inside and outside and has showed vertical juice https://t.co/IyQ009o9A2
The Panthers selected Mingo with the 39th overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft. He’d go on to appear in 24 games with Carolina, amassing just 539 yards and no touchdowns on 55 receptions.
Mingo was traded to Dallas last Tuesday, just a few hours before the league trade deadline.
Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan explained the deal a day later.
“Great player, still a developing player,” Morgan said of Mingo. “Thought it was a good deal between us and Dallas. They get a young player that they can grow and develop and we get a draft pick we’re happy with. So, I think it was a win-win for both sides.”
Morgan and the Panthers received a 2025 fourth-round pick for Mingo and a 2025 seventh-round pick.
WR Jonathan Mingo, who was traded by the Panthers last week, is expected to make his Cowboys debut on Monday night.
A former Carolina Panthers wideout is about to hit the reset button on his NFL career.
Jonathan Mingo, now a member of the Dallas Cowboys, is expected to make his team debut this Monday night against the Houston Texans. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed the news about the second-year receiver on Thursday afternoon.
McCarthy confirmed that Mingo will play Monday. He said he is been everything they thought he was, can play inside and outside and has showed vertical juice https://t.co/IyQ009o9A2
The Panthers selected Mingo with the 39th overall pick of the 2023 NFL draft. He’d go on to appear in 24 games with Carolina, amassing just 539 yards and no touchdowns on 55 receptions.
Mingo was traded to Dallas last Tuesday, just a few hours before the league trade deadline.
Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan explained the deal a day later.
“Great player, still a developing player,” Morgan said of Mingo. “Thought it was a good deal between us and Dallas. They get a young player that they can grow and develop and we get a draft pick we’re happy with. So, I think it was a win-win for both sides.”
Morgan and the Panthers received a 2025 fourth-round pick for Mingo and a 2025 seventh-round pick.
Panthers GM Dan Morgan issued a statement on today’s big contract extension for RB Chuba Hubbard.
Yesterday, Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan hinted towards some exciting “stuff” that he was working on. And today, he delivered.
On Thursday morning, the team announced a four-year, $33.2 million contract extension for running back Chuba Hubbard. The agreement—as first reported by NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport—contains a maximum value of $37.2 million with $15 in new guaranteed money, and could keep the 25-year-old in Carolina through the 2028 campaign.
Morgan, per an official release, provided the following statement on the move:
“We are excited to sign Chuba to an extension and keep him in Carolina. He exemplifies everything we want on and off the field. Chuba is passionate about football, is productive and is committed to his teammates and winning.”
Hubbard has led the Panthers in rushing in two of his first three full seasons. Through nine games of his fourth campaign, he’s run for 665 yards—currently the fifth-most in the NFL.
Would Panthers GM Dan Morgan consider drafting a QB at the top of the 2025 NFL draft? He was asked that on Wednesday, and he didn’t say no.
No one knows who will be starting under center for the Carolina Panthers in 2025, including the man who runs the show.
President of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan spoke with reporters this afternoon, just a few days ahead of his team’s Week 10 matchup against the New York Giants. As you’d assume, he took quite a few questions regarding Bryce Young—the quarterback he helped select with the No. 1 overall pick of last year’s draft.
Morgan did shoot down speculation about a possible move of the 23-year-old passer, who remained in Carolina past yesterday’s trade deadline. He was, however, asked why the team hasn’t committed to Young moving forward.
“Those are obviously discussions between Dave [Canales] and myself and Brandt [Tilis], just kinda talkin’ through the direction we wanna go,” Morgan replied. “Ya know, hey, we’re lookin’ for him to grow and develop every week, get better every single week. And Dave has a plan for him, Dave has a plan for all the guys on this roster. He’s doin’ a really good job with him and Bryce has bought in and he’s committed to being the best that he can be. So, we’ll see where it goes.”
Young hasn’t lived up to his billing quite yet. The Panthers are 3-17 in his 20 career starts, where he’s thrown for just 162.3 yards per game with 14 touchdowns and 16 interceptions.
The outlook has gotten a bit brighter in recent weeks. Young had himself a relatively solid showing against the Denver Broncos in Week 8 and followed that with a triumphant start in a 23-22 win over the New Orleans Saints this past Sunday.
But if Young still doesn’t impress the organization enough by the end of the campaign, would Morgan and company consider taking another quarterback at or near the top of the upcoming draft? He was asked that very question shortly after.
“I mean, I’ll consider everything,” Morgan stated. “I’m gonna have an open mind. I talk about it all the time and I talk about it with the guys in the building. We’re gonna draft really good football players. So, whatever position that is—I don’t know. But we’re gonna draft really good football players we think are gonna help our team improve.”
The Panthers, at 2-7, are currently in the fourth overall slot of the 2025 draft order.
Panthers GM Dan Morgan on trading WR Jonathan Mingo to the Cowboys: “I think it was a win-win for both sides.”
Yesterday’s trade of wide receiver Jonathan Mingo may just be a victory for everyone involved.
The man who struck that deal, Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan, spoke with reporters about the swap this afternoon. He believes Mingo’s move to the Dallas Cowboys helps out all parties.
“Great player, still a developing player,” Morgan said of Mingo. “Thought it was a good deal between us and Dallas. They get a young player that they can grow and develop and we get a draft pick we’re happy with. So, I think it was a win-win for both sides.”
Carolina shipped away their 2023 second-rounder for a pick swap in the 2025 draft. The Panthers sent Mingo and a seventh-round pick to the Cowboys in exchange for a fourth-round pick.
Mingo has struggled to find success in the NFL thus far, as he’s amassed just 539 receiving yards and zero touchdowns through 24 career games. Meanwhile, a few other young Carolina wideouts—namely Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker—have quickly emerged here in 2024.
Morgan was asked if the recent play from the two rookies helped prompt Mingo’s departure.
“It has to do a little bit with building, too,” he replied. “I think we’re trying to build the roster the right way, and that’s through the draft. We’re definitely excited about a lot of our young guys. We’re excited about a lot of the guys on the roster, in general. So, I like the direction that we’re headed. We just gotta keep building and growing this thing.”
Legette has scored a touchdown in four of the team’s past six games while Coker has totaled 114 receiving yards and a score over the last two.
According to Panthers GM Dan Morgan, Bryce Young was never on the trade market.
According to Carolina Panthers president of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan, quarterback Bryce Young was never really on the market.
Morgan took some time to chat with reporters on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the passing of the league’s trade deadline. He was asked about the speculation regarding a possible move of the 2023 No. 1 overall pick.
“We never got into any discussions,” Morgan replied. “I never opened that door. Didn’t want to trade Bryce, still don’t and committed to working with him and helping him grow and helping him develop.”
#Panthers GM Dan Morgan says he never “opened the door” for trade negotiations for Bryce Young; adds that he’s committed to working with him. pic.twitter.com/rlrxs08LYf
As the assistant general manager last season, Morgan was one of the many voices within the organization who backed the selection of Young. That decision has yet to pay off for the Panthers, who are just 3-17 in his 20 career starts.
Young has, however, sparked a little bit of hope with his recent performances—including this past Sunday’s 23-22 win over the New Orleans Saints.
The Panthers took a small gamble on Diontae Johnson back in the spring. It did not pay off.
You probably don’t have to try to galaxy-brain the coming and going of now-former Carolina Panthers wideout Diontae Johnson. This all might be quite simple.
As we continue to wait on some sort of official word, it appears as though the 28-year-old pass catcher is headed to the Baltimore Ravens. And between Carolina’s willingness to move their leading receiver and their pittance of a return for him, many fans—of the Panthers and NFL alike—seem very perplexed about the move.
Tuesday’s decision closes up what was a seven-month relationship for Johnson and the Panthers, one that began with a surprising swap back in March. The one-time Pro Bowler was sent to Charlotte in return for cornerback Donte Jackson and a 2024 pick swap that slightly favored the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If we combine the terms of that trade with the one that went down today, here’s what the Panthers have done . . .
That whole shabang looks even worse when you consider what Carolina will reportedly have to pay Johnson to not play for them over the final few months of the season. Per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the Ravens will be responsible for around $625,000 on Johnson’s expiring contract—leaving the Panthers to foot a bill of about $3 million.
But all of this shouldn’t tell you that the Panthers were hoodwinked, bamboozled, led astray, run amok or flat out deceived. It should tell you that they were just, flat out, done with Diontae.
This offseason, the front office was looking for a go-to target to help develop second-year quarterback Bryce Young, and all they had to give up for it was a step down in the later rounds of the 2024 draft and Jackson—who was likely going to be released at the start of the new league year. Johnson, at worst, would be a rental—and at best, a productive No. 1 receiver who could earn himself a multi-year extension.
Johnson, additionally, did come over with some question marks regarding his maturity. Not to speculate that his style wore out his welcome with the Panthers, but it could explain why they were willing to eat most of his salary and take a very minor bump in draft capital to trade him.
Now, sitting at 1-7 and deciding on whether or not they even want to trot Young out in Week 9, the vision has changed. Now, Johnson became dispensable.
Moving forward, his departure will open up more opportunities for receivers who have actually figured themselves into the future—rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker. Sunday’s outing against the Denver Broncos, where Legette scored on All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II and Coker put up a career day, certainly couldn’t have hurt the team’s outlook in a post-Johnson wideout room.
So, let’s just take this entire situation as it is—a small gamble that simply did not pay off.
The Panthers are holding WR Diontae Johnson out for Week 8. Does the decision relate to the trade deadline? HC Dave Canales was asked that on Friday.
Are the Carolina Panthers holding out wide receiver Diontae Johnson for Diontae Johnson and the Carolina Panthers or for Diontae Johnson and another team? Well, from the perspective of his job, head coach Dave Canales says it’s the former.
Canales spoke with reporters on Friday, shortly after the team ruled out Johnson from their Week 8 matchup against the Denver Broncos. And with the league’s trade deadline now less than two weeks away, he was asked if the decision on his leading pass catcher is related to a possible deal.
“Those are all conversations that Dan [Morgan] and Brandt [Tilis] will handle,” he replied. “For me, it’s like, I wanna do the best thing for Diontae, the best thing for the offense and the continuity of what we’re trying to get done. And the fact that he couldn’t get back on the field this week, I felt confident about the guys being able to step in there and do it.”
Asked if decision on holding Diontae Johnson out is related to the trade deadline, Dave Canales says that’s a conversation for Dan Morgan and Brandt Tilis. pic.twitter.com/TmUbkjsCnq
Preserving Johnson, who is down due to a rib injury, would help preserve the chances of a potential trade with a receiver-needy contender. The former Pro Bowler is currently on the final year of his contract, so the 1-6 Panthers may be inclined to sell him off to the highest bidder.
In addition, his status for Week 8 is particularly interesting given his comments from yesterday—when he said he thought he’d be able to play through the injury.
The Panthers will also be without fellow veteran Adam Thielen, who is working his way back from a hamstring injury.
Cam Newton “spoke for” Bryce Young after the second-year QB’s sudden benching by the Panthers.
Cam Newton and Bryce Young were thrust into pretty similar situations to begin their pro football careers. Both were Heisman Trophy winners in college, both were No. 1 overall draft picks and both were expected to lead the middling Carolina Panthers to relevance.
But sharing a similar situation doesn’t mean they necessarily shared a similar environment. And, in turn, the results couldn’t be more different.
Newton, in his latest episode of 4th & 1 with Cam Newton, gave his thoughts on Carolina’s sudden benching of the struggling second-year quarterback. But instead of placing all the blame on Young, the franchise’s all-leading passer takes some aim at the franchise itself . . .
As Newton notes, the Panthers have lacked stability around Young. The 23-year-old has now had two different head coaches and three different offensive play-callers over a 19-game span.
Those 19 games have seen Carolina go 2-17 (2-16 in Young’s starts), with Young throwing for a lowly 173.4 yards per game with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Head coach Dave Canales pulled the plug after just two outings here in 2024, where Young has totaled 245 passing yards and three picks.
Newton, on the other hand, experienced incredible success early on in his NFL career. Not only did he triple his team’s win total in his very first season, pushing the 2-14 Panthers to a respectable 6-10 in 2011, but he also put on a rookie campaign for the ages in doing so.
By Year No. 3, Newton pulled the organization to an NFC South title—the first of three consecutive division crowns. And by Year No. 5, he led Carolina to their second-ever Super Bowl appearance while becoming the franchise’s first-ever recipient of the Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards.
Unfortunately, it’s now extremely difficult to envision Young following a similar path to Newton’s—or anything even close to it. But maybe, just maybe, Bryce’s story still isn’t over in Carolina.
Panthers Wire contributor Jared Feinberg answers some of your questions as we head into Week 1 of the 2024 season.
The Carolina Panthers enter the opening week of the regular season with plenty of question marks yet to be answered. Fans are curious about how their team will perform heading into the year, and want to gauge what is to come.
With Week 1 just days away, let’s reach into our very first mailbag here at Panthers Wire and answer a few of your inquiries . . .
(Note: Some questions have been edited for length and clarity.)
Expectations for Jonathan Mingo
Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Justin asks – What are you expecting from Jonathan Mingo in Year 2?
There was a lot of criticism about Mingo’s play as a rookie in 2023. The second-round pick’s spatial awareness and feel as a wideout were inconsistent at best—resulting in him being out of position, overrunning passes thrown his way and, overall, just offering a skill set that was plain raw.
It’s not Mingo’s fault that the bar may have been set too high. The former Ole Miss standout was a bit overdrafted, and struggled in a bad 2023 Panthers offense. Grace should be given to the 23-year-old.
Mingo turned in a terrific summer where he displayed strides as a route runner and an improved feel for the game. He all but established himself as the No. 2 outside receiver–the off-ball Z–and a potential top target for fellow draft classmate and Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.
This season should see Mingo come close to doubling his yardage total from last year, where he caught 43 passes for 413 yards and no touchdowns. He’ll be the team’s top run-after-catch playmaker outside of rookie Xavier Legette and should receive a decent number of targets.
Xavier Legette’s role in the current rotation
Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
Chris asks – How do you think they work Leggette into the rotation? I assume he’ll start the season as WR4.
Chris, you are correct. Legette is currently listed as the team’s No. 4 receiver on the unofficial depth chart. While some fans have voiced concerns about Legette potentially not seeing ample playing time early in the season, the team’s first-round selection should hit the gridiron plenty.
Legette will likely be in when the team needs a big play downfield, or if they want to get him in space where he can split defenders and create yards after the catch. He would rotate in with Adam Thielen and Mingo, with snaps as the Z-receiver and in the slot to garner off-coverage looks. But, no, I don’t expect him to get eight to 10 targets per game—at least early on.
Look for Canales and offensive coordinator Brad Idzik to get him schemed targets and allow him to function as a quality rotational piece before getting more snaps throughout the campaign.
How the new DBs could play a role in the secondary
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Malte asks – Do you see any of the new DBs cracking the rotation besides Mike Jackson?
As Malte alluded to, the team traded for Mike Jackson and is expected to start him alongside Jaycee Horn. Then, last week, Carolina took advantage of the No. 1 priority on the NFL’s waiver wire and came away with three cornerbacks.
Those three players–Keenan Isaac, Tariq Castro-Fields and Shemar Bartholomew–are all players with size, length and athleticism. That has value. It’s possible we see these three on special teams and occasionally rotated in to give Horn and Jackson a breather.
However, it’s also possible that one of these three could be inactive depending on the matchup and how each player performs in practice. All three received quite favorable Pro Football Focus grades, which matched some of the tape displayed during the preseason with their former teams.
It’s important that Carolina added bigger corners that resembled their starters. By doing this, it gives them depth with the expectation that their level of play is elevated.
Biggest strength and weakness of the roster
Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images
CoastalPanther asks – What areas of the roster do YOU feel are our strongest and weakest this season? For me, I feel for the first time in ages WR is bright and I feel DE and a strong No. 2 CB are areas of concern until we see how the new additions shake out. But, feel great with direction and seriousness.
Great question! I do agree with you that there is alignment, direction and deliberateness in the Panthers’ process currently.
President of football operations and general manager Dan Morgan is making it known what he is looking for with the Seattle prototype of big, lengthy cornerbacks. I’m intrigued with the waiver wire additions. But until it shows on the field, it’s an unknown.
The biggest weakness on this roster is the No. 2 outside linebacker spot. The team claimed an undrafted free-agent edge rusher, Jamie Sheriff, to add depth to the room. However, head coach Dave Canales has yet to determine who will be starting opposite of Clowney for the season opener in New Orleans.
Carolina’s biggest strength is undoubtedly the safety room. While Canales has made an argument for his group of wideouts, it’s hard to ignore the talent and depth the team’s backend possesses.
Xavier Woods and Jordan Fuller will be manning the deep thirds this season. And backup Nick Scott, who could start on several teams, gives the unit a seamless transition if one of the two were injured.
Additionally, second-year defensive back Jammie Robinson is the physical player in the group—providing physicality and power as a tackler while adding value on special teams.
