The addition of standout University of Texas cornerback Quentin Jammer wasn't the lone defensive upgrade completed by the San Diego Chargers on Saturday.

	Edwards

In a move that not only solidified the team's linebacker corps, but also provides the club a Pro Bowl-caliber defender, San Diego reached an agreement with unrestricted free agent Donnie Edwards, released earlier this spring by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Details of the contract were not immediately available.

Edwards, 29, was clearly the premier outside linebacker remaining in the free agent pool, and arguably among the top players available overall. The six-year veteran became a cap victim when the Chiefs declined to pay him a seven-figure roster bonus this spring. Just before his release, he declined a three-year, $9 million offer to stay with the Chiefs.

A fourth-round choice of the Chiefs in the 1996 draft, Edwards has been dependable but also dominant at times. His few critics point out that Edwards has never been named to a Pro Bowl squad. But few defenders log as many snaps as Edwards over the course of a season and the former UCLA star has posted over 100 tackles each of the last three years.

Since the 1997 season, his second in the league, Edwards has participated in between 90-97 percent of the Chiefs' defensive snaps. He is a true "three-down defender," a player who does not come off the field on third down.

Edwards had drawn considerable interest in the last two weeks but the Chargers became the front-runner for his services when the St. Louis Rams dropped out of the bidding just a few days ago. Typically utilized at the weakside spot, Edwards is one of the finest pure athletes in the league at his position.

Said one Chargers official on Saturday afternoon: "We feel like we're getting one of the most versatile (linebackers) in the whole league."

In six seasons, Edwards has appeared in 94 games and started 80 of them. Over the past five campaigns, he has missed only one contest.

He has 725 tackles, 14½ sacks, six forced fumbles, one recovery, 10 interceptions and 28 passes defensed.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.