2023 NFL Draft prospect profile - Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss

Feb 3, 2023 - 5:00 PM

The New York Giants need to add a wide receiver.

Actually, they probably need to add a couple receivers before the start of the 2023 season. Not only do the Giants need a true number one wide receiver, but they also need to fill out their depth chart at the position as well.

Ole Miss wide receiver Jonathan Mingo has a pro-ready frame and will naturally draw comparisons to fellow Ole Miss alums A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf. Mingo might not be the instant sensation that they were, but he has the tools to get scouts and coaches excited.

Can Mingo eventually follow in the footsteps of Brown and Metcalf?

Prospect: Jonathan Mingo (1)
Games Watched: vs. Kentucky (2022), vs. Auburn (2022), vs. LSU (2022), vs. Alabama (2022)
Red Flags: Broken foot (10/2021)

Measurables

Height: 6-foot 1 3/8 inches
Weight: 226 pounds
Arm length: 32 inches
Hand size: 10 ¹⁄₄ inches

Career Stats

Games Played: 34
Receptions: 112
Yards (YPC): 1,758 (15.7 per catch)
Touchdowns: 12

2022 Stats

Games Played: 13
Receptions: 51
Yards (YPC): 861 (16.9 per catch)
Touchdowns: 5

Quick Summary

Best: Size, play strength, short-area quickness/agility, release, blocking
Worst: Separation, catch consistency, long speed
Projection: A developmental wide receiver and core special teams player

Game Tape

(Mingo is Ole Miss WR number 1)

Full Report

Jonathan Mingo is a big, physical, athletic, and versatile wide receiver prospect out of Ole Miss.

Mingo’s stature and frame stand out immediately. He is listed at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, and if anything appears bigger than that on the field. Mingo has a thick, powerful frame with a particularly powerful lower body. He was asked to align all over the Ole Miss offensive formation, spending time as an X, Flanker, and Slot receiver, as well as lining up in the backfield as an H-Back and even as a running back.

Mingo was a tertiary receiver in the Rebels’ offense, rarely seeing more than a handful of passes go his way. Instead, he was frequently used as a part of route concepts to create separation for his teammates. Despite his lack of looks as a pass catcher, Mingo is a surprisingly capable route runner. He has a good release package and is able to get off the line cleanly against both man and zone coverage. He drives off the ball hard against zone coverage, wasting no time accelerating into his route. Against man coverage, however, he features a quick stutter-step to disrupt defenders’ timing and force them onto flat feet.

Mingo has surprising quickness, short-area agility, and lower-body fluidity for a bigger, thicker receiver. He shows the ability to drop his hips and change directions (relatively) suddenly. He also shows good burst out of his breaks and gets up to top speed quickly.

While he doesn’t see the ball often, Mingo runs a fairly diverse route tree that sees him use both in and out-breaking routes to all levels of the field. He shows a good understanding of his role within route concepts and does a good job of using his frame to shield defenders from his teammates or sell routes that are purely designed to create space in other areas of the field.

He is a tough and physical player when the ball does go his way. Mingo is willing to take on contact, run through arm tackles, and make tough catches in traffic. He is also able to find soft spots in zone coverage or play through man coverage.

Mingo was primarily used as a blocker by Ole Miss and is a very good one. He understands the blocking schemes, has solid technique, and makes full use of that powerful lower body. Likewise, he is willing to take on contact and works to sustain his blocks. Not only was he used to block defensive backs for wide receiver screens or off-tackle runs, but Mingo also frequently lined up in the backfield as an H-Back and blocked box safeties or even linebackers.

While Mingo shows promising traits as a receiver, he needs further development on the finer points of the position. He lacks subtlety as a route runner and hasn’t shown the ability to vary the tempo of his routes or press his routes into the defender. He also appears to have average-at-best top speed and doesn’t appear to be able to run away from most defensive backs.

Mingo also shows inconsistent hands as a pass catcher. He is capable of making tough “circus” catches, but can also drop relatively easy catches.

Overall Grade: 6.8

Projection

Jonathan Mingo projects as a developmental wide receiver with positional versatility, but will likely start as a core special teams player.

Mingo has several intriguing traits that could translate into becoming a starting receiver at the NFL level. He has great size and play strength for the position, as well as uncommon quickness, agility, and fluidity. He also has experience playing out of a number of alignments, which could allow a creative offensive mind to force difficult match-ups for the defense. Likewise, his blocking ability and physicality will almost certainly appeal to teams who want to use run-heavy schemes. Mingo will enter the NFL as a capable blocker and that could earn him field time for teams that want more blocking from an 11-personnel package.

Mingo could be a difficult evaluation for teams, as he didn’t see the ball often in games and had inconsistent quarterbacking as well. He will likely need development to reach his ceiling as a receiver. He has flashed upside, but needs to improve as a separator and as a catcher of the ball. As it stands now, he is more of a useful depth piece than a receiving threat.

That said, Mingo’s tools could allow him to blossom into a good receiver in the right situation, and could present good value later in the draft.