Forgotten Panthers second-round pick turning heads after dismal first season

Jonathan Mingo, a 2023 second-round pick of the Carolina Panthers, is turning Dave Canales' head amid the wide receiver battles at training camp.

After Saturday's practice, Canales praised Mingo for how he's competed as he vies to remain relevant after all the additions made at wide receiver during the offseason.

"You see Mingo, Terrace Marshall really showing who they are. David Moore, you throw the ball that his way, he comes up with it," Canales said. "I've really seen those guys come through, and when we can depend on them. So it's a really good room, it's a really good competition, some different styles of players. Ihmir making some nice plays today."

Mingo finished his rookie campaign with 43 receptions for 418 yards, placing him tenth among the rest of the 2023 rookie receiver class . He averaged a pedestrian 27.9 receiving yards per game. That is not going to cut it for a high second-round pick.

The wide receiver group has seen drastic changes, including first-round pick Xavier Legette and the offseason trade to acquire former Pittsburgh Steelers pass catcher Diontae Johnson.

Carolina also added Deven Thompkins, who played under Canales while he was the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Panthers may already have the needed depth at wide receiver if Mingo lives up to the potential he exuded in college.

During Mingo's senior year at Ole Miss, he racked up 861 receiving yards and five touchdowns – averaging nearly 17 yards per catch.

Mingo returning to his college form would be a pleasant surprise for Bryce Young, who will be relying on the 2024 version of the Panthers' wide receiver group to get open at a higher rate than it did a year ago.

“We talk about creating that competition and challenging every position—and that’s exactly what we want,” Canales said. “We wanna make sure everybody’s pursuin’ their best. They’re not looking left and right. They’re just focusing on their execution and we’re getting good execution out of those guys right now.”

Young is sure to be a happy quarterback because of it.