By Tim MacMahon
ESPNDallas.com
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OXNARD, Calif. -- Who will be the Dallas Cowboys' third receiver this season?

That's one of the questions asked most often during this training camp. The answer, as was the case for last season's team at this time a year ago, probably isn't on the roster.

It's most likely a matter of when, not if, the Cowboys pick up a better option off the waiver wire. They already tried to claim Dezmon Briscoe, but he didn't get past the Washington Redskins in the waiver's pecking order. They also put in a fourth-round bid in the supplemental draft on Josh Gordon, only to have the Cleveland Browns snatch him up in the second round.

Expect the Cowboys to continue to target young receivers with upside instead of older receivers who have put up big numbers in the past but are well past their prime.

In other words, they probably wouldn't be interested in Terrell Owens even if T.O. had not torched every bridge within a 100-mile radius of Valley Ranch. Same goes for Patrick Crayton.

And, no, Plaxico Burress isn't the kind of guy that Jason Garrett wants on his roster.

The Cowboys are looking for another Laurent Robinson -- a relatively young receiver with talent whose career hasn't blossomed elsewhere for whatever reason. They're looking for a receiver who can help them win right now and could have a bright future with the Cowboys.

The odds of them lucking into another waiver-wire pickup who produces 11 touchdowns, as Robinson did before jumping to Jacksonville for big money, are extremely slim. They're counting on Miles Austin and Dez Bryant to stay healthy and perform up to their Pro Bowl potential, which means they'll just need a third receiver who can be reliable and catch about 35 passes.

They don't need another Robinson. They just need an upgrade over the reserve receiver options on the roster right now.