The Miami Dolphins signed 10-year veteran defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina on Monday in a move that provides the club a solid rotational player.

A starter the past three seasons in St. Louis, where he has played since 1997, the unrestricted free agent Zgonina signed a four-year contract. Financial details were not immediately available, but ESPN.com confirmed the signing bonus was $500,000.

Miami outbid the Kansas City Chiefs for Zgonina, who could have remained with the Rams and who also had interest from the New England Patriots. The addition of Zgonina gives the Dolphins a proven veteran to spell starting tackles Tim Bowens and Larry Chester.

The fate of former No. 3 tackle Jermained Haley, a restricted free agent, is not yet clear. The team could rescind its $605,000 qualifying offer to Haley or attempt to trade the three-year veteran.

Zgonina, 32, is a tough-minded run stopper who has flashed some pass rush ability in recent seasons. The self-made, blue-collar player had never started a game before 2000, but logged 40 starts in his three years with the Rams and was named a team captain.

In a thinning free agent pool Zgonina clearly was one of the best defensive players remaining and he seemed to click with team officials in Miami when he visited the past two days.

The former Purdue star played with Pittsburgh (1993-94), Carolina (1995) and Atlanta (1996) before signing with St. Louis in 1997. He has recorded 206 tackles, 13½ sacks and three forced fumbles in 107 appearances. Last season, starting in all 16 games, he had 38 tackles and four sacks.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.