The Washington Redskins completed a contract agreement with unrestricted free agent safety Matt Stevens yesterday, sources close to the situation said.

According to sources, the Redskins also reached a three-year contract agreement with defensive tackle Delbert Cowsette, a seventh-round draft pick from the University of Maryland.

Stevens, who led the Redskins with six interceptions last season, was re-signed to back up starting free safety Mark Carrier. According to sources, he agreed to a one-year deal worth around $440,000, the NFL minimum for veterans.

Team officials resolved after the club's recent minicamp at Redskin Park to sign veteran backups at guard and safety. The Redskins drafted a guard, Michael "Mookie" Moore, and a safety, Quincy Sanders. But they wanted more experience at each position, and Stevens solves that problem at safety.

He was the team's backup to starting free safety Leomont Evans last season, and had more of an impact than Evans even in a reserve role. Stevens, 26, demonstrated a knack for being around the ball and making big plays. But his gambling style also produced some negative plays, as when he was victimized by the Dallas Cowboys for the winning touchdown pass in overtime in the Redskins' regular season opener.

The Redskins decided to upgrade at the position this offseason and signed Carrier, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, as an unrestricted free agent.

Stevens nearly signed with the Denver Broncos, but the deal fell through at the last minute and the Broncos signed another Redskins reserve defensive back, Darryl Pounds, instead.

Contract negotiations intensified in recent days, and the two sides had an agreement in place yesterday.

The Redskins hope to sign cornerback Deion Sanders and add a guard and perhaps another veteran reserve or two next month. The team almost certainly will release fullback Larry Bowie and might release kick returner and running back Brian Mitchell in June salary cap moves.

Cowsette becomes the first of the Redskins' eight draft picks to sign. He is small for a defensive tackle but has impressed coaches with his quickness, and club officials hope he will be an effective backup to Dana Stubblefield and Dan Wilkinson. He was the first Terrapins player to be drafted by the Redskins since Frank Wycheck in 1993.

The Redskins are intent upon getting all their draft selections--particularly first-round choices LaVar Arrington and Chris Samuels--signed and in training camp on time. The market for Arrington's and Samuels's contracts perhaps was set when the Cleveland Browns signed the first pick in the draft, defensive end Courtney Brown, to a deal that includes a signing and reporting bonus of about $10.9 million.