March 18, 2026, 6:04 p.m. CT

With Dak Prescott turning 33-years-old this summer, the playoff window is narrowing for the Dallas Cowboys. In a quarterback-driven league, fielding a franchise caliber signal-caller is half the battle. The Cowboys front office has acknowledged as much, making statements that invoke thoughts of a setting sun. They speak of urgency and commitment, and at times their actions sometimes back up those words.

In a free agency analysis done by The Athletic, Jourdan Rodrigue breaks down each NFL team and buckets them in a category of urgency. She separates those who are taking actions to win-now, those who are executing a rebuild and those who fall somewhere in between. The Cowboys, self-billed as a team a team who’s willing to “bust the budget” to win now, fell somewhere in between, not-so surprisingly.

Earning top spot in the “Neutral-positive” category, the Cowboys are credited with effort while falling short in actual accomplishment. Citing their attempts at adding Maxx Crosby as proof of their desire to improve, Rodrigue concludes the front office was “setting the table to hit the draft hard on [the defensive] side of the ball.”

It’s possible Rodrigue was being too kind to a front office that’s known more for words than actions, but it’s also possible she’s pointing something out that many disgruntled Cowboys are too jaded to see: A successful offseason is about writing a complete story and not about simply winning the first chapter in a vacuum.

In said vacuum, the first chapter was underwhelming for the Cowboys. They hardly displayed budget-busting behavior in their various trades and signings. They plugged holes by addressing deficiencies. Aside from signing safety Jalen Thompson they did little to clearly upgrade a starting position from 2025. Some additions may eventually prove otherwise, but at the moment, Thompson replacing Donovan Wilson is the only indisputable upgrade.  

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The bigger picture could tell a different story entirely. With two first-round picks the Cowboys are positioned to upgrade two more starting positions on defense. Linebacker, cornerback and edge rusher would be the easiest but even a top-tier safety could elevate the Cowboys on Day 1.

There’s also the aftermarket to consider. Last year after striking out at receiver in free agency and in the draft, the Cowboys pulled a rabbit out of a hat by trading for George Pickens. Who’s to say the same thing can’t happen again if a certain position of need ends up rolling snake eyes in next month’s draft?

The neutral-positive designation the Cowboys received is both appropriately insulting to a team that should be all-in, and appropriately big picture for a team that positioned itself for big waves in the 2026 NFL draft.  

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