Joyce, 27, will sign a three-year contract. While financial details were not yet available, the deal is believed to be worth $3 million with a signing bonus of about $750,000.

Saturday, the Cardinals signed center Mike Gruttadauria from the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams, rewarding him with a four-year, $8.6 million contract. Gruttadauria is regarded as the savvy veteran that line coach George Warhop needs to bring his unit together. But Joyce is a key component because of his size and versatility.

The mammoth (6-feet-7, 310 pounds) Joyce can play tackle or guard and started 15 games in '99 while splitting time between the two positions. Most scouts feel he is more productive at guard. In five seasons, he has played in 53 games, including 34 starts, and the former defensive lineman is just now beginning to dominate in some stretches of games.

Joyce played collegiately at Richmond and was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1994. He also had stints in Cincinnati and Seattle before signing with Arizona in 1996. He visited with Cleveland officials last week and had other auditions set up as well before opting to re-sign with the Cardinals.