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The St. Louis Rams, who had only four linebackers under contract, have strengthened the position and added considerable flexibility by reaching agreement with unrestricted free agent Chris Draft, a proven veteran sought by several other teams.

Draft

Financial details of the three-year deal were not available.

A nine-year veteran who started all 16 games for the Carolina Panthers last season, Draft will be joining his fifth different NFL franchise. He was also pursued since the outset of the free agency period by Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Atlanta. He visited last week with the Rams' coaches and personnel officials.

Draft, 31, has started at all three linebacker positions in a 4-3 alignment at various junctures of his career. His role with the Rams has not yet been defined, but there is a chance that he could challenge incumbent Brandon Chillar for the starting job at strongside linebacker, and at worst, he provides St. Louis with a versatile backup.

In 2006, Draft opened the season in Carolina as the starting weakside linebacker. After two games, however, he moved to middle linebacker to replace the injured Dan Morgan, and started the final 14 games there. Draft finished the season with career highs in tackles (111) and sacks (5½).

His performance last season, combined with his versatility from scrimmage and proven track record as a special teams performer, made Draft very popular as a mid-level free agent.

A sixth-round choice of Chicago in 1998, Draft has 540 career tackles, 14 sacks, four interceptions, eight passes defensed, six forced fumbles and six recoveries. He has played in 111 games and started in 71 of them in stints with Chicago (1998), San Francisco (1999), Atlanta (2000-2004) and Carolina (2005-2006).

The Rams also agreed to terms with free agent cornerback Mike Rumph, a five-year veteran, on a one-year contract. A first-round choice of San Francisco in 2002, Rumph was traded to Washington last season. The former University of Miami standout, a disappointment most of his career, has 138 tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 43 games.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. To check out Len's chat archive, click here .