Rebels WR Jonathan Mingo Ready To Be Panthers Next Top Target
Maybe Jonathan Mingo won't become a breakout sensation overnight like A.J. Brown, but few players in NFL history go from second-round standouts to focal points of an offense as a rookie.
Mingo, the next great Ole Miss pass-catcher to enter the NFL, should provide stability in the slot for rookie quarterback and No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young with the Carolina Panthers. Drafted 39th overall, the Panthers valued Mingo's size, speed, and catch radius to make him the first receiver selected in the second round.
“We just see him as a really good scheme fit,” Panthers coach Frank Reich said Friday evening to reporters in Charlotte. “When a guy has elite ball skills and you have a super-accurate passer like we do, that’s just a really good combination. Just get it near him. He’s got strong hands to the ball, and he’ll be a great target for Bryce.”
A 6-2, 220-pound playmaker that was at his best across the middle of the field, Reich said Mingo fits what Carolina is looking to build in the passing game with new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown. Panthers general manager Scott Fitterer said Mingo wowed them with his skills but also his personality when visiting the facility as part of the pre-draft visits.
“He just has a vibe about him, kind of a toughness,” Fitterer said. “He’s all about the ball. He’s got a little country to him.”
Mingo, a native of Brandon, might have the country background, but he also possesses that farmer strength to win against defenders in man coverage. Last season as the No. 1 option for Jaxson Dart, Mingo finished with a team-high 16.9 yards per catch on a career-best 51 catches.
Scouts compared Mingo's physical attributes to former Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin. Like Mingo, Boldin was a consistent weapon that lined up everywhere in the receiving game but was at his best when working inside.
While Mingo never became a household name in the SEC, his combined numbers likely boosted his overall draft grade. While at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Mingo ran his 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds, posted a 10-yard split time of 1.54 seconds, a 39.5-inch vertical jump, and a broad jump of 10 feet, 9 inches.
Reich said Mingo should thrive in the offense due to his concept of routes and ability to win at all three phases of the passing game.
"When a guy has elite ball skills and you’ve got a super accurate passer like we do, that’s just a really good combination,” Reich said. “Just get it near him. He’s got strong hands to the ball. He’ll be a great target for Bryce.”
Building a rapport with Young will be essential for Carolina's offensive growth, but Mingo is confident after watching the Alabama passer light up the stat sheet for two years on the opposing sidelines, the two should quickly connect as the next great combination in the NFC South.
"One thing about Bryce Young is he doesn’t make mistakes," said Mingo. "He’s very poised; he doesn’t get rattled, he takes each game play by play, takes his time. He’s a smart kid.”
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