Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft starting on April 27th, we will be releasing several draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up...
Jonathan Mingo (Wide Receiver), Ole Miss, Senior
Jonathan Mingo stands in at 6'2" tall, weighing 220lbs, and is one of the fastest risers in this draft class.
Ole Miss Athletics
Jonathan Mingo signals first down in a game against the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Overview
Mingo is a big bodied receiver who tested better than some expected at the combine. Between that and his performance at the Senior Bowl, he is steadily climbing up draft boards and likely in the Day 2 conversation now.
Getting the ball into Mingo's hands is the way he wins, as he is a load after the catch and has a natural feel in the open field. It'll be interesting to see where he ends up and if his offensive coordinator can maximize his abilities.
Pros:
- Great build
- Good release against all types of press/coverage
- Tracks ball well in the air
- Works back to the QB
- Good run blocker
- Detailed route runner
- Good hands
Cons:
- Not elite production, 1/4 of 2022 production came in one game
- Doesn't separate consistently
- Play speed doesn't always match timed speed
- Might be limited to the slot where he can use his body
The Steelers have their top two wide receivers set for at least the next two seasons in Diontae Johnson and George Pickens, but you can never have too many weapons for a young quarterback, and I am sure Kenny Pickett and Steeler Nation would enjoy having a threat in the slot. The team didn't really have a slot wide receiver last season after losing JuJu Smith-Schuster to free agency, and Mingo has shown the ability to excel there. He had a meeting with the Steelers as one of their 30 pre-draft visits, so the interest is there.
Marvin Gentry | USA Today Sports
Jonathan Mingo makes an over the shoulder catch in a home game at Oxford Stadium.
Route Running and Separation
Watching Mingo's tape you can tell he pays attention to detail with his route running, as his technique has very little wasted movement and very precise. Being a four year starter it isn't surprising that he is refined in his craft, but definitely a positive he continued to work on it and was able to improve it each season. Even with his refined route running, Mingo is not an elite separator.
His foot quickness off the line is great, but it isn't on the same level in and out of his breaks which leads to defenders being able to stick with him. He uses his body well to put defenders on his back, which helps limit the defenders ability to get to the ball.
Athleticism and RAC
Definitely the strongest aspect of Mingo's game is his run after the catch ability. Because he has such a big, strong body and is a plus athlete, he is a hard person to bring down in one on one situations. On tape it is easy to see that Mingo is an explosive individual, especially in terms of his leaping ability and quickness, but the top end speed doesn't always show the same in game as his 4.46s 40 yard dash he ran at the combine.
Petre Thomas | USA Today Sports
Jonathan Mingo attempts to break a tackle after the catch.
IQ and Hands
There is definitely a good display of understanding coverages and knowing when to settle down against certain coverages when you look at Mingo's film. He understands what the defense is trying to do and does a good job to adjust his route to give his quarterback a window to get him the ball.
Mingo works back to the QB well and makes himself available during scramble drills, which some young wide receivers struggle with. While Mingo does a good job of not having concentration drops, he does have a tendency to be a body catcher, which begs the question if he can make catches away from his body consistently. Now, some of that may be because he works heavily over the middle, so he is limiting his exposure to big hits.
NFL Comparison - JuJu Smith-Schuster
Steeler Nation should know this name all too well, as Smith-Schuster spent his first five season with the Steelers. Mingo shares a lot of similarities with Smith-Schuster, as they are both big bodied receivers who excel after the catch. Smith-Schuster showed more production in college but both are similarly polished when entering the draft and can contribute early in their careers.
Draft Projection - Day 2
Originally Mingo was viewed as a fourth or fifth round pick, but he has helped himself a lot in the pre-draft process. Showing off in the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine has resulted in some saying he could sneak into the first round, but I think that is a bit unlikely.
Let us know below what you think about Mingo as a prospect and the potential of seeing him in the black and gold catching passes from Pickett! What other prospects would you be interested in seeing a profile on? Click to comment below!
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