Mike Zimmer wasn't fibbing yesterday when he said a deal with Terence Newman was close.

The Vikings on Thursday finalized the terms of a one-year contract with the free-agent cornerback, according to a league source. The deal is for $2.5 million with $750,000 guaranteed.

Newman visited the Vikings last week but the two sides were unable to hammer out a deal until now. Now that he is joining the Vikings, Newman will be reunited with an old coach in Zimmer.

Zimmer was in Dallas when the Cowboys drafted Newman fifth overall in the 2003 draft. Zimmer coached Newman for four seasons there and another two in Cincinnati before Zimmer came here.

While Newman turns 37 in September, the signing makes sense because the Vikings need more depth at cornerback and his experience should be an asset to their young secondary. They also weren't thrilled with how Captain Munnerlyn performed on the outside in his first year in town.

Newman has predominantly played left cornerback in his career, so he will presumably compete with Munnerlyn and Josh Robinson — and maybe a high draft pick — to start opposite Xavier Rhodes.

Newman is the third free-agent defender to come on board this week. Safety Taylor Mays, another of Zimmer's former players in Cincinnati, and linebacker Casey Matthews both signed Tuesday.