With the 54th pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select: Ole Miss WR Jonathan Mingo
Jonathan Mingo's stock has picked up steam in recent weeks and for good reason. He of course killed athletic testing with his forty time and vertical and his tape being a great watch. But more important to his rise is his size: Mingo is a 6'2", 220-pound force on the outside in a draft pool with smaller fish.
Mingo set a college career high in receiving yards with 861 yards on 51 receptions last year with 16.9 YPR. Aside from just having prototypical size as mentioned earlier, he's got jets strapped to his legs too. The acceleration and burst for someone as big as him is a rarity. He's also a smart, patient route runner to back up the athleticism, which is not something that can be said for all 4.4 prospects:
Ole Miss WR Jonathan Mingo slowing down his route, deceiving the defense into thinking he's going to block, and with the burst of speed, splits two defenders for a 71-yard touchdown. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/dN3IfkjciK
— WBG84 (@WBG84) April 16, 2023
Speed-wise he offers something that the Chargers don't have right a lot of right now. Jalen Guyton did agree to return to the team but he alone is not enough speed for the entire offense. In 2023 and going forward, the Chargers absolutely need a receiver who can accelerate through several points in his routes (particularly in the deep part of the field).
Chargers fans and draft watchers alike should get used to seeing Mingo in the second-round range. It wouldn't be a surprise if he's gone before 54 at this point.