Give the Washington Redskins and owner Dan Snyder their due for this much: In a year when most teams have vowed to tip-toe into free agency, the Redskins are throwing caution to the wind, attempting to quickly bolster the team after a disappointing 7-9 record in 2002.

Just a day after addressing their running game woes, the Redskins on Saturday turned their attention to defense.

ESPN.com has learned that Washington has reached contract agreements with a pair of defensive linemen, tackle Brandon Noble of Dallas and end Regan Upshaw, who most recently played for Oakland.

Both players figure to be starters for the Redskins, who finished No. 5 in total defense in 2002 but needed to revamp their front four.

The Redskins' move comes a day after trading for former St. Louis tailback Trung Canidate and signing starting guards Randy Thomas of the New York Jets and Dave Fiore of the San Francisco 49ers.

"We have some more coming in -- in a few days," coach Steve Spurrier said. "So don't go anywhere."

Noble, 28, started all 16 games each of the last two seasons. While he is not a dominating player, he is a tough, blue-collar defender and he will replace Daryl Gardener in the lineup. Gardener is an unrestricted free agent, turned down an offer from Washington, and will sign elsewhere.

In 64 games, including 41 starts, Noble has 105 tackles, 7½ sacks and five pass deflections. He is not a player who hits the crease and gets into the opposition backfield, but is a superb anchor against the run.

Contract details on Noble were not immediately available.

Upshaw, 27, is a seven-year veteran who will provide toughness and also outside pass rush skills to the Redskins line. He signed a five-year deal worth $7.5 million and including a $2 million signing bonus.

When he was released by the Raiders earlier in the week, he immediately attracted plenty of attention around the league. Upshaw missed much of the 2002 season because of a knee injury in training camp, and appeared in just five games. But he was so valuable to Oakland that team kept him on its active roster while he rehabilitated from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

A onetime first-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Bucs, he has 33½ career sacks to go with a nasty temperament. The Redskins will be the fourth different team for Upshaw.

Thomas had planned to visit as many as six other teams until Snyder offered to make him one of the best paid guards in the league.

"That's what I like about that guy -- he set the table," Thomas said.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.