In a surprise move, the Baltimore Ravens signed former Seattle Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a one-year contract.

Houshmandzadeh's deal is worth $855,000, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Seattle still owes Houshmandzadeh $6.15 million, meaning the receiver will make a total of $7 million this season.

To make room for Houshmandzadeh, the Ravens traded receiver Mark Clayton to the St. Louis Rams. A league source told ESPN that the Rams sent a sixth-round pick to Baltimore and got Clayton and a seventh-round pick in return.

Houshmandzadeh told USA Today that linebacker Ray Lewis recruited him to the Ravens.

"Ray said, 'If you want to win, this is the place to be,''' Houshmandzadeh told the newspaper. "The way he is on the field is how he is off the field. Passionate. Our conversation was passionate and insightful.

"I know from competing against those guys when I was in Cincinnati how it is in Baltimore.''

Houshmandzadeh told USA Today that he chose the Ravens for a chance to win a Super Bowl.