In ESPN's latest NFL power rankings, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves stuck right in the middle of the pack at number 16. While that might not sound like much to write home about, it's actually a fair assessment for a team that's been busy retooling after a disappointing 7-9-1 season.

Let's be honest: last year's defense was historically bad for the Cowboys franchise. The silver lining? When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up. And that's exactly where Dallas has focused its energy this offseason.

The Cowboys have made it crystal clear that defense is the priority. The bulk of their free agency moves and draft picks have been dedicated to shoring up that side of the ball. The biggest splash came with the signing of safety Jalen Thompson to a three-year, $33 million deal - the team's richest free agent contract since 2012. They also brought in P.J. Locke and then made a bold move by trading up one spot in the draft to snag Ohio State's Caleb Downs, who many considered the best overall prospect in this year's class.

New defensive coordinator Christian Parker is clearly building his scheme around versatility. Thompson, Locke, and Downs can all play multiple positions, giving the Cowboys flexibility they desperately need. Compare that to last year's starting safety duo of Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson (Hooker remains on the roster), and you can see the upgrade.

Of course, as every football fan knows, paper moves don't win games. The Cowboys could be excited about Caleb Downs' potential, believe the Rashan Gary trade will pay off, or trust that regression to the mean will fix the defense. But until the pads are on and the games count, it's all just speculation.

ESPN's power rankings, released Tuesday, are based on "who improved this offseason" - and by that measure, Dallas is sitting right at league average. For a team that's been stuck in mediocrity, that's actually a step in the right direction. Whether they can climb higher when the season starts is a question only the gridiron can answer.