Having spent much of the spring raiding the free agent lists of other teams, the Washington Redskins have bolstered their defense by reaching contract accords with two of their own players, safety David Terrell and linebacker Kevin Mitchell.

A restricted free agent, Terrell will sign a one-year contract for $605,000, the amount of the qualifying offer the Redskins made him in February to retain a right of first refusal on any deals he might have signed elsewhere. Terrell flirted with signing an offer sheet from the San Diego Chargers but that agreement never came together.

Terrell, 26, started all 16 games at free safety in 2002, posting 76 tackles and grabbing two interceptions, but could be forced into a backup role this season.

Barring a contract extension, Terrell, a three-year veteran, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring.

Washington signed former Green Bay backup Matt Bowen as a restricted free agent and he has been penciled in as the starting free safety. The team is eyeing a strong safety, possibly targeting Mike Doss of Ohio State with its first pick in this weekend's draft, a choice that does not come until the second round.

In addition to Terrell, the Redskins will retain Mitchell, who also had agreed to a one-year contract after testing the free agent market for nearly two months. Mitchell will sign a deal which includes a base salary of $655,000 and $25,000 signing bonus. His contract will count just $475,000 against the 2003 cap because of a rule that provides a cap break for teams that sign veteran players to minimum-salary deals.

An eight-year veteran, Mitchell gives the team an experienced reserve linebacker, one whose resume includes 27 starts, and solid special teams player. He can line up at the middle or strongside linebacker spots, knows the defense well, and always plays hard.

Mitchell, 32, visited with several other teams early in free agency but the Redskins continued to pursue him throughout. One hook for him was that he owns a home near the team's complex and he and his wife just celebrated the birth of their first child. Since no other team was willing to guarantee him a starting job, Mitchell considered it prudent to return to the Redskins for another year.

Owner Dan Snyder earlier this week got personally involved in speaking to Mitchell about the benefits of re-upping with the club.

The Redskins continue to await a resolution to the four-year, $3.95 million offer sheet to which they signed Miami Dolphins restricted free agent defensive tackle Jermaine Haley last week. The Dolphins have until Friday to match the offer or permit Haley to move on to the Redskins.

Washington officials also continue to pursue unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Michael Myers, a five-year veteran from the Dallas Cowboys. He has been offered a one-year contract for $555,000 but indicated he prefers to wait until after the draft to make a decision on it. The Redskins may force the issue by imposing a deadline on the offer.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.