The Steelers were finalizing a five-year deal Monday night to sign Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Terms of Jackson's contract are close to the five-year, $12.25 million deal the Falcons signed with safety Cory Hall last week. The Bucs wanted to re-sign Jackson but they could only offer between $1 million and $1.5 million because of the salary cap.

For Jackson, the final bidding came down to the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals were first to offer in the $2.4 million-a-year range. The Steelers arrived at that number on Monday, giving Jackson a choice.

Jackson was considered the perfect coverage safety in Monte Kiffin's defense. For years, the Bucs had juggled safeties on the other side of John Lynch, but Jackson gave Kiffin the versatility of using him in coverage or putting him near the line of scrimmage for tackling purposes.

Unfortunately for Kiffin, the Bucs had other priorities than just signing Jackson. They have signed two offensive linemen -- center John Wade and guard Jason Whittle -- in the past couple of days. On Friday, they reached an agreement to re-sign middle linebacker Shelton Quarles.

Jackson, 25, had two interceptions in the Super Bowl. He was a fourth-round choice in 1999 and became a full-time starter in 2001.

Jackson would replace Lee Flowers in the Steelers secondary.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.