It happens every year as June starts to fade and the long wait until training camp leaves us little news to talk about: We take one or two storylines for the Dallas Cowboys (and really, every NFL team) and start taking them out of proportion.

That's why as we await the team's arrival at Oxnard for camp, I decided to rank the Top 3 Cowboys storylines fans and media are currently overblowing.

Let's dive in.

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1. Cowboys need to sign the right kicker

Sure, they do. But dampen your expectations, Cowboys Nation. Unless they find a hidden, unproven gem, the team won't be finding a game-changer at this point of the offseason. Right now, even if the front office signs a big-name free agent like Robbie Gould, the production they get out of him would probably be very similar to his counterparts.

Over the last two years, Gould's numbers haven't even been better than Maher's. In other words, if you're expecting a top-tier solution at this spot, you're about to be hit with a bucket of cold water.

If Dallas lands somebody that can provide the just about same value that Brett Maher did last year, that would be considered a win. The bad news is it's almost impossible to know if Maher himself can provide that after missing a record-breaking four extra points in a playoff win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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2. UDFA wide receivers

Everyone loves an underdog. That's why you can't talk about the Cowboys' wide receivers without someone bringing up the possibility of an undrafted rookie potentially making the team ahead of the 2023 NFL season.

Just last year, Dennis Houston did. Why not one of the many highly-touted UDFAs the front office signed this year? I wouldn't rule it out considering Jalen Moreno-Cropper, David Durden, and Jose Barbon are all very talented. But building a 53-man roster is a numbers game. Simi Fehoko, Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin's presence make this a very top-heavy position group.

It would be a major surprise if the Cowboys carry one of the UDFAs here.

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3. Need for a linebacker

Don't get me wrong: The Cowboys could use linebacker depth. In fact, it's one of their thinnest and most inexperienced position groups.

But this team isn't in the same situation as it was last year. When Anthony Barr was signed in August of 2022, he essentially became a plug-and-play free agent. He was the de-facto starter since Week 1 with a 69% snap count average on defense over the first four weeks.

If the Cowboys end up signing a linebacker before the season, expect him to be a backup behind Leighton Vander Esch and Damone Clark. All eyes should be on the latter, who'll be trying to build on a strong rookie season with his first full offseason to work with. 

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