The Cowboys appear to have changed how they do things this offseason, and a franchise legend has taken notice.
This offseason loomed as a defining one for Brian Schottenheimer's Dallas Cowboys.
After a poor 2025 season, all the focus was on Schottenheimer and how the franchise would address the defense.
Matt Eberflus was out, and the extensive search for the next coordinator was the first indicator of change within the franchise. Then came player acquisition.
Not big-name signings, but players who fit into what Christian Parker wanted. The other thing was the players' character. They love football, are intelligent, and are buying into what Schottenheimer is selling.
Again, it has been a different vibe compared to previous seasons.
Now that the draft is over, and we've gotten an even better idea of what Parker and the Cowboys are trying to do on defense, again, there's a clear plan.
Draft players who have high football IQ, are leaders, and who want to be part of something special.
And if former Cowboys star and someone who should already be in the Hall of Fame, Darren Woodson, is noticing it, then yeah, Dallas might be onto something.
"I think that for the first time, we've seen something different,” Woodson said on the Straight Talk Homies podcast with Trey Wingo. “Every year has been the same model. They don't get involved in free agency. There's nothing really going on in the offseason. They rely on their guys in-house. I think it's the first time this year where they're starting to look at it from a blue-collar standpoint.
"It's almost looking at the Seattle Seahawks team, who was just in the Super Bowl and watching them build that defense. That's what they're trying to get to, yeah, they would love to have the superstars, but make the superstars buy into the program, not you having to buy into them.”
COO Stephen Jones did mention earlier this offseason that the Seahawks were a team no one thought would make the Super Bowl a year ago, so maybe the Cowboys are trying to take a leaf out of Seattle's book.
But there can be no denying that a shift has taken place in Dallas. No, it hasn't been the seismic one fans have wanted, but more so a concerted effort to make a change.
Whether that be in the hiring process, what sort of player they are looking for, the mental traits they want, or anything in between. There has been a change.
Now, time will tell if these changes work once the Cowboys start playing meaningful football, but right now, Woodson is noticing how different Dallas is moving.
Sometimes change is as good as a holiday, and time will tell if the 2026 season will be what Dallas hopes it can be.