Cowboys At The NFL Trade Deadline: Live Updates

The Dallas Cowboys are open to making a deal before today’s 4:00pm EST NFL trade deadline. But their limited cap space, currently rumored to be under $2 million, makes most trades incredibly difficult. Especially, in their area of needs.

Aug 16, 2013; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen (69) before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Bills beat the Vikings 20-16. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

The Cowboys have been decimated by injuries along their defensive line. The Cowboys continue to add players literally off the streets to fill-in for Pro Bowl talents like DeMarcus Ware, Anthony Spencer and Jay Ratliff.  Dallas latest addition to this no-name defense is Everette Brown. A former second round pick in 2009 by the Carolina Panthers, Brown has been added to a squad that includes other formerly unemployed players like Marvin Austin, George Selvie and Nick Hayden.

The biggest name that could help the Cowboys along that line is the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive end Jared Allen. Allen is a free agent next season and is not expected to resign with the struggling Vikings. Minnesota is reportedly shopping the 5-time Pro Bowler who is a native of Dallas. But his enormous six-year, $73.260 million contract makes that almost impossible. The latest reports suggest that the Seattle Seahawks are making a last minute effort to acquire his services.  Dallas is simply unable to place his existing $7.5 million contract amount under their current cap for the remainder of the season, without some sort of exchange of players. (Miles Austin anyone?)

The Cowboys could also look for help along their offensive line now that veteran Brian Waters has been ruled out for the season. Both the safety and running back positions could also be addressed. And there seems to be a lot of talented wide receivers available as well.

Keep checking back to this post for the latest Cowboys trade news throughout the day, right up until today’s 3:00pm CST deadline.

1:08pm CST – Jared Allen Update – Jay Glazer now denying reports that the Seattle Seahawks are in play for Allen. He did say two other teams are. Is Dallas one of them? Chris Mortensen reporting the Vikings are asking a second-round pick for Jared Allen but would consider a conditional third-round pick.

1:17pm CST – Jared Allen Update – Allen refuses to take a pay cut. Here’s what he said to the Star Tribune back in May:

"“…if anybody asked me to take a pay cut, I’d be through the first door out of there.”"

1:23pm CST – Safety Jairus Byrd is a possibility for the Cowboys. But his salary is around $3.5 million for the rest of the year. And Buffalo wants a “young” player in exchange. J.J. Wilcox, Barry Church maybe?

1:47pm CST – Jared Allen Update – It now appears the Denver Broncos are attempting to land Allen:

2:02pm CST – Not trade news but Cowboys roster news. Dallas release defensive end Jason Vega. Move made due to the recent signing of defensive end Everette Brown.

2:16pm CST – It appears wide receiver Josh Gordon will remain in Cleveland and Hakeem Nicks will stay in New York.

2:16pm CST – San Francisco 49ers are really active with less then an hour to go.

2:22pm CST  – Jared Allen Update – Broncos now out of the Jared Allen race.

2:27pm CST – Atlanta’s tight end Tony Gonzalez is now off the table.

2:39pm CST – It appears the New England Patriots are efforting to get DT Isaac Sopoaga from the Philadelphia Eagles.

2:41pm CST – Any chance of the Cowboys getting RB Darren McFadden from the Oakland Raiders appears to be gone. Cowboys were very interested in McFadden before he was drafted in 2008. But his injury history and hefty contract made a trade unlikely.

2:45pm CST – The Isaac Sopoaga trade has now been completed.

2:49pm CST – Jared Allen Update – It appears all Jared Allen trade talks are finally dead.

3:00pm CST – The trade deadline has now past. And the Cowboys, along with a majority of the NFL, made zero moves to improve their team. What’s funny is the New England Patriots did and people wonder how their always competitive year after year.

The Cowboys limited cap space obviously hurt them, but they missed out on an opportunity to get some real value in exchange for players like Miles Austin, Kyle Orton and Justin Durant. All of whom are expected to be cap casualties come this offseason.