The Steelers lost one player and were about to get one back as free agency took its first turn into the weekend.

Oliver Ross, one of the most coveted tackles as an unrestricted free agent, came to a contract agreement last night with the Arizona Cardinals and will sign it today.

In the meantime, the Steelers are on the verge of re-signing cornerback Willie Williams to a multi-year contract.

Ross, 30, became a full-time starter for the first time in his career at right tackle last season after spending six seasons as a backup for the Steelers. He started all 16 games and parlayed that into a whopping contract with the Cardinals.

Arizona will pay Ross $17.5 million over five years. He will receive $6.3 million in 2005 in a combination of salary and signing bonus and earn $12 million in the first three years of the contract.

Williams, 34, signed a one-year contract with the Steelers in May after being released by the Seattle Seahawks. He stepped in as the Steelers' starting cornerback at midseason after an injury to Chad Scott.

Ross became the first Steelers free agent to sign with another team. Williams became the second free agent to re-sign with the Steelers, after restricted free agent linebacker Larry Foote, who re-signed Tuesday.

The Steelers made a pitch to retain Ross, but were not competitive with Arizona's contract offer. They plan to elevate Max Starks, a third-round draft choice last year, to the starting job at right tackle.

The Steelers drafted Williams in the sixth round in 1993. He started two seasons before leaving as a free agent for Seattle, where he played seven seasons. He intercepted one pass last season and had 57 tackles, one sack and seven passes defensed.