Dallas Cowboys Free Agency: Looking at Barkevious Mingo
By Randy Gurzi
Needing pass rush help this offseason the Dallas Cowboys could look at several free agent options including defensive end/linebacker Barkevious Mingo
The 2013 NFL Draft wasn’t very good. The first round is littered with players who completely let their team down. Quarterback E.J. Manuel of the Buffalo Bills, Dion Jordan of the Miami Dolphins, Dee Milliner of the New York Jets and guard Jonathan Cooper, who was a top-10 bust and was signed recently by the Dallas Cowboys, all come to mind.
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According to a leaked 2013 Cowboys draft board they had Cooper ranked as a first-round selection before he found himself going seventh overall to the Arizona Cardinals. He suffered a broken leg which slowed his progress and eventually he ended up going through four teams in one calendar year. After being dealt by the Cardinals in the offseason to the New England Patriots, Cooper was cut by them in the regular season.
From there he went to the Cleveland Browns and was again released. Dallas then decided to kick the tires on him and brought Cooper in for the last few weeks of the season to get a good look. Dallas obviously felt that whatever they saw in 2013 to rank Cooper that high was worth looking at again once he became available. Could they now do the same thing with the player picked just one spot before him?
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With the sixth-overall pick that same year, the Cleveland Browns selected LSU linebacker Barkevious Mingo. They hoped he would be a dangerous edge rusher, but Mingo never lived up to the hype. He wound up being dealt to the Patriots—just like Cooper did—for a fifth-round pick. He played in all 16 games for the Super Bowl champions, but recorded just 11 tackles. With such limited production, he should be available as a discount free agent option.
Could Dallas be interested in seeing what can get out of Mingo in 2017? The question, of course, becomes whether or not he is a fit. Mingo played outside linebacker for both Cleveland and New England, but according to the Cowboys leaked board, they had him pegged as a defensive end. He was also ranked ahead of current Detroit Lions starter Ezekiel Ansah on Dallas’ board.
Mingo is similar in size to current Cowboys defensive end Benson Mayowa—Dallas’ sack leader in 2016 with six. Both are listed at 240 pounds, but Mingo at 6-4 is one inch taller than Mayowa.
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With 90 roster spots available during training camp, it would make sense for Dallas to bring Mingo in on a contract that offers no guarantees. Coming off 11 tackles, that shouldn’t be too hard to do. It could pay off while giving them a player they once thought rather highly of. If it doesn’t, it’s not like it cost them much.