In a move that should upgrade the interior of a secondary in flux, the San Diego Chargers have signed free agent safety Kwamie Lassiter, one of the top players still available in the unrestricted pool.

Lassiter, 33, signed a three-year contract, details of which were not yet available.

	Lassiter

The veteran free safety had played his entire eight-year career with the Arizona Cardinals before becoming an unrestricted free agent this offseason. Although Lassiter started all 16 games in each of the last four seasons, the Cardinals made little effort to retain him.

The former University of Kansas standout, signed by the Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 1995, registered 119 tackles in 2002, third-most on the team, and also had two interceptions and eight passes defensed.

For his career, Lassiter has 709 tackles, 24 interceptions, 49 passes defensed, four fumble recoveries, six forced fumbles and four sacks. In 2001, his career-best nine interceptions tied for the NFL lead, and he was designated a "franchise" free agent in 2002. But unable to reach an accommodation on a long-term deal, Lassiter just signed a one-year qualifying offer of $3.34 million, making him eligible to go back into the market this spring.

Lassiter appeared close to an agreement with the Seattle Seahawks two months ago, but the deal was never consummated. His leverage leaguewide also was likely affected by the glut of starting-caliber safeties still seeking jobs.

San Diego has worked much of the offseason to refurbish a secondary that played poorly in '02 as the Chargers ranked dead last statistically in defense versus the pass. In a major reshuffling, the Chargers released a pair of starters, strong safety Rodney Harrison along with cornerback Alex Molden.

Starting free safety Rodgers Beckett was slated to move to strong safety, and longtime cornerback Ryan McNeil was to switch to free safety, so it remains to be seen how the acquisition of Lassiter impacts those plans. The Chargers also chose three defensive backs, including top pick Sammy Davis, with their first three selections in this year's draft six weeks ago.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.