Free-agent cornerback Phillip Buchanon has signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Washington Redskins, a league source told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora on Monday.
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Buchanon can earn another $750,000 in incentives, according to the source.
The Redskins, who confirmed the signing later in the day but didn't disclose terms, have been seeking depth in their secondary since they released Fred Smoot at the beginning of the free-agency period. DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers are the Redskins' projected starters at cornerback, but Rogers has struggled at times to stay on the field because of inconsistency.
"We are very excited to add a veteran corner, such as Phillip, to our defensive backfield," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said in a statement released by the team. "He has had a lot of success in this league and brings with him the ability to create turnovers. He will be a big part of what we are trying to accomplish defensively in Washington."
Buchanon also can return punts -- an area in which the Redskins struggled last season. They ranked 30th in the NFL in return average.
Buchanon, 29, was released by the Detroit Lions on March 4 after he started 11 of 13 games in his only season with the team. The nine-year veteran, who has 18 interceptions and 76 starts in his career, was a first-round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in 2002 and also has played for the Houston Texans (2005-06) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006-08).
The Associated Press contributed to this report.