Perhaps anticipating that incumbent starting center Kendyl Jacox will depart in free agency, the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night found a replacement, reaching an agreement with former Washington Redskins starter Cory Raymer, ESPN.com has learned.

Raymer, 29, visited with San Diego officials earlier in the day, and received an offer late in the afternoon. The agreement reunites him with former Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer, for whom he played the 2001 season.

The five-year contract is worth $10.5 million and it includes a signing bonus of between $2.25 million and $2.5 million. Washington had indicated an interest in having Raymer return and his departure further thins an already depleted interior offensive line. In addition to Raymer, both of the team's starting guards from 2001 are unrestricted free agents.

A former University of Wisconsin standout, Raymer made a solid comeback last season after missing the entire 2000 campaign because of a knee injury. He started all 16 games and returned to his pre-injury form, proving again to be an effective run blocker. He showed no effects of the torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered during the 2000 training camp.

Raymer was the Redskins' second-round choice in the 1995 draft. He has played in 63 games and started 58 of them. He also started every game in 1998 and 1999.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.