MKRob Sports

The Arizona Cardinals and former Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson have agreed to a two-year contract worth $7.25 million, a source told ESPN.com Wednesday.

The source said the deal includes $3.25 million guaranteed, and with incentives would max out at $18.25 million.

Anderson would compete with current Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart for the starting job.

Arizona’s deal for Anderson came on the heels of free-agent quarterback Charlie Whitehurst telling San Diego Chargers management earlier Wednesday that he will sign a one-year restricted free-agent tender offer. The development will allow the Chargers to begin trade talks on his behalf, a source told ESPN.com’s John Clayton.

Whitehurst has indicated he prefers to go to Seattle, according to a source; at one time, Whitehurst, who is a restricted free agent with third-round compensation, was considered a possibility to connect with the Cardinals. Because the Seahawks don’t have a third-round choice, the Chargers and the Seahawks would have to work out a trade.

Whitehurst, who hasn’t thrown a pass in a regular-season game following a collegiate career at Clemson, will be a significant acquisition for the Seahawks. Matt Hasselbeck will be the Seattle starter, but once Whitehurst reaches a multiyear agreement for better-than-backup money, he could be viewed upon as the quarterback for the future.