The Redskins have signed free agent cornerback Phillip Buchanon, the team announced on Monday.

Buchanon, an 8-year NFL veteran, visited Redskins Park on Monday and signed his contract.

Buchanon immediately jumps into the mix at cornerback. DeAngelo Hall and Carlos Rogers are the incumbent starters at the position and Justin Tryon and Kevin Barnes provide youth at the position.

Along with playing cornerback, Buchanon has also returned kickoffs and punts in his career. He could be added to the mix at punt returns, something he excelled at early in his career.

"We are very excited to add a veteran corner, such as Phillip, to our defensive backfield," executive vice president/head coach Mike Shanahan said. "He has had a lot of success in this league and brings with him the ability to create turnovers.

"He will be a big part of what we are trying to accomplish defensively in Washington."

Buchanon, 5-11 and 186 pounds, played for the Detroit Lions last season and logged 43 tackles, one sack, two forced fumbles and four passes defended.

He has also had NFL stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders.

For his career, Buchanon has posted 339 tackles and 18 interceptions, five of which he returned for touchdowns. He also has one career sack and six forced fumbles.

His best season was 2003, his sophomore campaign, in which he started 10-of-16 games and had 42 tackles and a career-high six interceptions.

On special teams, Buchanon has returned 118 career punts for a 9.1-yard average. In his rookie year, he had an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown. The following year, he had an 80-yard punt return for a touchdown.

He has returned nine career kickoffs for a 16.2-yard average.

Buchanon, a native of Fort Myers, Fla., entered the NFL as a first-round draft pick (17th overall) of the Raiders.

He played college football at the University of Miami, where he was a teammate of current Redskins Clinton Portis and Santana Moss, as well as the late Sean Taylor.