Of all the ways to open, the Cowboys chose the head-scratcher, spending the Round 1 slot on Cashius Howell with wide receiver, cornerback and other spots still wide open. The bottom line is a respectable B-.

The wide receiver spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. Building through the lines is a philosophy, and they stuck to it.

In short, they left a little better than they arrived, which is the whole idea.