The Cowboys' offense is built to win now, which puts all the pressure on the defense to pick up the pace in 2026.
Last season, the Dallas Cowboys' offense, you could make the case, was good enough to at least get to the playoffs, maybe more.
But the defense let the team down time after time, and yes, the offense had warts in the second half of the season; most know the biggest reason for Dallas' 7-9-1 record was the defense.
Easily one of the NFL's worst, the Cowboys have tried to overhaul a unit that desperately needs to be at least competent to complement Dak Prescott and the offense.
Christian Parker takes over, already with Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, and Cobie Durant as the starting pieces signed in free agency; now comes the NFL Draft.
Armed with two first-round picks, the Cowboys, in theory, can get two starters for Parker, and possibly more depending on how the draft board shakes out.
Dak isn't getting any younger, the George Pickens contract situation is on shaky ground, so the draft is where the Cowboys have to hit home runs.
For CBS Sports' Jordan Dajani, Dallas' roster urgency, out of 10, is an 8.
"Jones will turn 84 this season and wants another Super Bowl," Dajani wrote. "The Cowboys need to fix a defense that ranked third-worst in yards allowed per game (377) and last in scoring defense (30.1).
"Dallas has gone 30 straight seasons without reaching the conference championship game -- the longest active streak in the NFC. There's real urgency here."
We've spoken about the 'Dak window" with the Cowboys having two more years of Prescott before the potential to either extend him or say goodbye to him becomes a reality.
That is where this urgency comes from.
The offense right now can win you a Super Bowl, but with the defense as it was last season, you aren't beating any playoff teams.
That is why there's urgency in the draft to get starting players at No. 12 and No. 20 for Christian Parker so the defense can at least be competent enough to hold its own in most games.
The offense can do its part for Brian Schottenheimer, but the defense has to pull its weight; it can only do that if the right players are drafted.
Which is why the urgency for the Cowboys to nail the draft is so high.
The clock is ticking.