Still trying to stabilize the interior of their offensive line, the Washington Redskins on Tuesday reached a contract accord with unrestricted free agent Rod Jones, a six-year veteran who started for the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI last season.

Jones, 28, visited with Redskins officials on Monday night and most of the principle elements of the deal were agreed to then. The remaining details were hammered out Tuesday and Jones signed a three-year contract worth about $4 million.

Although he has primarily been a tackle most of his career, Jones will start at guard for the Skins, the spot some pro personnel directors have insisted for years might be his best position. He will also provide Washington a proven veteran backup to its tandem of standout young tackles, Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen, as well as overall leadership.

His in-line blocking strength should project well to guard.

He joins former Indianapolis Colts guard Larry Moore, who is expected to move to center, as free agent acquisitions aimed at bolstering the Washington offensive line. There is a chance the team will choose an offensive lineman with its first-round choice in the draft later this month.

The Redskins will be the third different team in three years for Jones, who played with the Rams in 2001 and the Cincinnati Bengals for the first five years of his career. St. Louis had hoped to re-sign Jones and his departure, coupled with the earlier exit of Ryan Tucker, leaves the Rams minus a starting right tackle.

Tucker had been the starter for all but one game during the 2001 regular season. A sprained ankle slowed him late in the year and Jones started all three postseason contests in his place. St. Louis now might have to turn to untested two-year veteran John St. Clair to play right tackle. Jones was an adequate performer at times for the Rams in '01, but missed much of training camp because of a bout with depression, one in which he wasn't certain he wanted to continue his career.

The former University of Kansas star was a seventh-round choice by Cincinnati in the '96 draft. He was released last spring by the Bengals, re-signed to a smaller contract, and then cut again as the team added more veterans to its line unit. Jones has played in 60 games and started 38 of them.