Veteran offensive guard Max Jean-Gilles has signed a free agent contract to play for the Cincinnati Bengals, leaving the Philadelphia Eagels as a free agent.

Jean-Gilles signed a one-year contract worth $1.15 million with Cincinnati.

Jean-Gilles, a fourth-round draft pick by the Eagles out of Georgia in 2006, played in 13 games for the Eagles in 2010, starting 10. In his five previous seasons, all with the Eagles, Jean-Gilles played in 42 games, starting 26.

Bengals offensive line coach Paul Alexander said of Jean-Gilles: "He's still a young guy but he has upside to him," Alexander told cincinnati.com. "He is big, strong and powerful and is in real good shape. He's had some issues with his weight but he looks lean, quick, powerful."

Last year, Jean-Gilles had gastric bypass surgery and is thought to be the first active NFL player to undergo that procedure.

"I see him as a guy who will compete in the mix,î Alexander said. "He's not a guy we're going to sign and throw right in there. He needs to learn and develop and get better before he can compete. How fast that learning curve will go we'll wait and see."

The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that they have re-signed restricted free agent offensive guard Max Jean-Gilles to a one-year deal. Tuesday was the deadline for teams to sign their restricted free agents

The former standout at the University of Georgia, where he was an All-America selection in 2005, was tendered at the level of his original draft position and he will make $1.176 million this season.

The 6-foot-3, 358-pound Jean-Gilles was originally an Eagles fourth-round draft pick in 2006. Jean-Gilles has provided the Eagles with some much-needed depth on the offensive line the past few years.

Jean-Gilles has played in 29 regular-season games, including 16 starts throughout his career with the Eagles. He played in 14 games last season (including the playoffs) and made six starts at right guard as the Eagles had trouble keeping the unit together.

This season he will have an opportunity to compete with Nick Cole and Stacy Andrews for the starting right guard position and have the opportunity to protect the Eagles' inexperienced new starting quarterback Kevin Kolb.

The Eagles started the restricted free agent period with nine players getting extended tenders. Eight of the nine players have signed their offers. Only punter Sav Rocca has not yet signed.