Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys eye Jared Allen

Is Jared Alien really going to retire?

The former Minnesota Vikings defensive end has already said he will if a team doesn't offer him a contract he deems worth returning for an 11th NFL season.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Media, Allen met with the Seattle Seahawks Sunday:

Jared Allen spent today in Seattle visiting with the #Seahawks, source said. It was his first free agent visit. He’s now back at home.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2014

Rapoport reports that Allen is expected to meet with "at least" one other team this week. That team may be the Dallas Cowboys, according to Sean Jensen of Thrive Sports:

DE Jared Allen is scheduled to visit w/ #Cowboys in coming days, likely traveling Monday, I'm told. He wrapped up visit w/ #Seahawks today.

— Sean Jensen (@seankjensen) March 17, 2014

Allen is the best DE left on the market, and the Bengals just lost one of the better ends in the game in Michael Johnson. Replacing him with Allen wouldn't be a bad consolation, but they likely won't offer him a big deal with long-term extensions looming for A.J. Green and Vontaze Burfict.

Allen, who turns 32 in April, started all 16 games for the sixth consecutive season and didn’t miss a single game in his time with the Vikings. After a slow start in 2013, Allen registered 6.5 sacks over the final five games and finished with 11.5.

He’s still got enough in the tank to make an impact on a team like the Bengals where he won’t be able to the focus of opposing offenses like he was in Minnesota. That’s because he’d be playing along the likes of Carlos Dunlap, Wallace Gilberry and hopefully a healthy Geno Atkins.

If the Seahawks and the Cowboys turn out to be the only two teams bidding for Allen, the Bengals could easily swoop in and sign him with over $27 million left in cap space.