Washington Redskins Free Agency: Redskins Sign Safety Tanard Jackson

The Washington Redskins have signed veteran free agent and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Tanard Jackson to a one-year contract, according to Jason La Canfora of the NFL Network.

Jackson returned to the field in 2011 to play 10 games for Tampa Bay after being suspended for a year by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for multiple violations of the league's substance abuse policy.

He recorded 35 tackles and two interceptions in 2011, and has career marks of 239 stops and 10 interceptions in 56 regular season games.

Originally the 106th pick in the 2007 NFL draft out of Syracuse, where he was a cornerback, Jackson has spent each of his first five professional seasons with Tampa Bay.

In Washington, his position coach will be former Buccaneers head coach and a man familiar with Jackson's skill set, Raheem Morris.

He joins safety Brandon Meriweather amongst other veterans added to the secondary by Washington this offseason, and will fight with Madieu Williams to start at free safety.

Jackson was cut earlier this offseason by Tampa Bay after failing a physical, and his health will have to be closely monitored heading into training camp.

The Redskins finished 2011 with a 5-11 record, and will pick second in the upcoming draft after sending a package of picks to St. Louis for the right to in all likelihood draft quarterback Robert Griffin III out of Baylor.