The Cowboys have been proactive this offseason, but one NFL executive isn't sold on the direction of the franchise.
The Dallas Cowboys' offseason, regardless of what you think of Jerry Jones' "bust the budget" quote, has been active.
With a handful of good, quality players signed, such as Rashan Gary, Jalen Thompson, and Cobie Durant, the Cowboys filled some much-needed roster holes for Christian Parker's defense.
But fans and the national media wanted more.
Jerry and the front office tried to get Maxx Crosby three times, with the Las Vegas Raiders knocking back all three offers, so the desire to land a big fish was there, but the franchise just couldn't get it over the line.
Plus, the failed moves for linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean showed the Cowboys were willing to try to bring in higher-caliber free agents.
But again, the franchise couldn't get it over the line. So no one can say the Cowboys haven't tried to be active.
However, in the NFL, you don't get points for trying.
And one NFL executive, who spoke to The Athletic's Mike Sando, has given their take on the Cowboys' offseason.
“Dallas is one of those spin-your-wheels type teams that never really gets a lot better,” the exec said.
This fits into the familiar characterization as Dallas as a "circus'' organization.
But does the team's recent work indicate that?
Well, last offseason, the trade for George Pickens made the Cowboys a lot better, even though it was seen as a risk at the time.
And the moves the franchise has made, while not All-Pro-level, have made the defense better. There's no arguing that.
The question of how much better the defense is, that's a conversation starter, but if a game were played today, Parker's defense does appear to be, at least on paper, better than last year.
But the proof will be in the pudding.
The Cowboys, for so long, haven't been aggressive in making their roster not only better, but truly capable of winning a Super Bowl.
There have been no big moves made; instead, cheap, bargain-basement free agents have been signed.
This offseason is a little different, and had Crosby or Walker been signed, then that would have sent a clear signal that the franchise is doing things differently.
But are the Cowboys just "spinning their wheels" again?
That's quite a conversation starter.