ORLANDO -- Wrapping up a productive day of free agent shopping, the Arizona Cardinals on Monday evening secured the services of their second high-profile acquisition of the day, reaching an agreement with unrestricted cornerback Duane Starks.

	Starks

The premier performer at his position among the unrestricted veterans, and one of the top overall players in the talent pool, Starks will sign a five-year, $23 million contract. The deal includes a $5 million signing bonus and base salaries of $3.6 for each season 2002-2006.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus wrapped up negotiations after a whirlwind two-week period in which his client visited with several teams and was ardently courted by the Oakland Raiders and Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens, for whom Starks played the first four seasons of his NFL career, made a last-gasp effort on Sunday and Monday to retain the cornerback, their first-round choice in 1998.

But the Ravens were requesting that Starks and Rosenhaus provide them time to clear additional salary cap room by extending the contracts of linebackers Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware, which was deemed untenable given the current market. The Raiders also would have needed more time to create wiggle room, but Rosenhaus, who has been the most proactive agent in the market, was not about to delay once he landed a lucrative offer from the Cardinals.

The atypically aggressive Cardinals, capitalizing on their spending room, earlier Monday landed standout tight end Freddie Jones, formerly of San Diego, with a three-year, $5.1 million deal.

"I think Duane, when he visited us, liked the direction of our football team," said coach Dave McGinnis. "He's going to be a very big part of it. I'm extremely happy. I mean, here I am just walking around at the owners meetings with a big, old smile on my face."

Both of the Cardinals starting cornerbacks from 2001, Tom Knight and Corey Chavous, are free agents and expected to sign elsewhere.

"You hate to leave a team like the Ravens, where you've made great relationships, but I'm really looking forward to brining the Cardinals some of that winning attitude and toughness that we all had back in Baltimore," said Starks.

Starks, 27, is coming off a 2001 campaign some felt was the most uneven of his career, but still had four interceptions. In fact, he has at least four thefts in each of his four NFL seasons and a total of 20 for his career.

The former University of Miami star has played in 62 games and started 54 since joining the Ravens in 1998. In addition to his 20 interceptions, he has 203 tackles, six forced fumbles, one recovery and 71 passes defensed.

Len Pasquarelli is an ESPN.com senior writer.