IRVING, Texas -- The Cowboys brought their roster to the full 53 on Tuesday afternoon with a trade for Colts pass-rusher Caesar Rayford, who brings to Dallas an intriguing background if not a blue-chip pedigree.
Rayford went undrafted out of college in 2008 after having not been a starter at Washington. He never received a pro tryout then so he signed with the BC Lions of the CFL and then with a pair of Arena Football League teams, where he earned a reputation at that level as a playmaker on defense and a kick-blocking ace on special teams.
The Colts signed the 27-year-old this offseason and he put himself on the map, recording five sacks in Indy's four preseason games.
Dallas gives up an undisclosed 2015 picks for Rayford, who is 6-7, 270 pounds and provides the Cowboys some insurance at defensive end, where starting strong-side end Anthony Spencer (knee) remains questionable for Sunday night's NFL opener against the visiting Giants.
The Cowboys have busied themselves this week churning the bottom of the roster with a waiver claim on special-team linebacker Kyle Bosworth and four trades: Rayford from the Colts, special-team linebacker/end Edgar Jones from Kansas City, defensive lineman Sean Lissemore to San Diego and tight end Dante Rosario to Chicago.
