November 5, 2011; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators head coach Will Muschamp reacts with safety Josh Evans (24) after they blocked a field goal during the first quarter at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

In base defensive packages, four positions constitute the defensive secondary.  Two cornerbacks, one strong safety, and one free safety.  Heading into the 2013 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars only had the free safety position truly settled with Dwight Lowery returning to the familiar role.  The other returning starter, cornerback Mike Harris, seems to be the odd man out among a new defensive scheme that requires stronger, more physically imposing cornerbacks to play aggressively.  It’s a tough change for the comparatively undersized Harris and I hate to see him shut out because he is a hard worker, but in all honest he outplayed players last year who should no longer be starting in this league.

Last season the Jaguars’ defense dropped from the eighth best passing defense in 2011 to 22nd.  The play of Aaron Ross was absolutely horrendous, Rashean Mathis was woefully behind his younger counterparts, and it took Harris weeks and weeks to catch up and play the game at an effective level.  Dawan Landry, the starting strong safety the previous two seasons, was cut this offseason for a lack of range.

But the 22nd ranked defense this past season is now being reorganized by a man that led the Seattle Seahawks’ defense to become sixth in the league against the pass in 2012.

The reconstruction of the Jaguar secondary begins and ends with head coach Gus Bradley.  He told general manager Dave Caldwell the types of players he wanted and Caldwell went out and got them.  Johnathan Cyprien (SS) and Dwayne Gratz (CB) figure to start immediately.  Demetrius McCray (CB) and Jeremy Harris (CB) figure to compete for time on the field.  Safety Josh Evans is going to be involved in some way, he’s just too talented to ignore.  Now, with the addition of Marcus Trufant, the Jaguars have an experienced player to add a veteran presence to an extremely young unit.

The Jaguars aren’t just throwing players at the secondary.  Fivedraft picks, a handful of undrafted free agents, and a veteran addition make this secondary so much more than it was heading into the draft and the mid offseason period.  But it isn’t just about warm bodies.  The players selected are quality.  They bring in a new era of potential and success that the Jaguars haven’t seen from a secondary unit since the days of Donovin Darius and Rashean Mathis dominating.  No longer with the secondary be a liability.  It is becoming a strength.

- Luke N. Sims

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Nov 25, 2012; Jacksonville FL, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Nate Washington (85) watches as Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Mike Harris (20) makes an interception on the final play in the fourth quarter of their game at EverBank Field. The Jacksonville Jaguars beat the Tennessee Titans 24-19. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-USA TODAY Sports

The Jacksonville Jaguars’ roster is not yet complete but Paul Kuharsky of ESPN is already predicting the team’s breakout player for 2013 to be cornerback Mike Harris.  Harris outplayed Aaron Ross and Rashean Mathis (both no longer with the team) to finish the year starting opposite Derek Cox.  With a depleted secondary following free agency Harris looks poised to be a starter again.  Here’s what PK had to say:

We’ll have to see just how much the Jaguars add at cornerback in the draft, but second-year man Mike Harris is in prime position to establish himself as a primary contributor. He currently rates as the No. 1 corner on the team where Alan Ball is second. However, Harris is 5-foot-10, 188 pounds, and new coach Gus Bradley is coming from Seattle, where his defensive system put a premium on big corners.

I agree that Harris doesn’t fit the mold for Bradley’s defense, but last year he showed that he can outplay players who have far more experience at the position.  While physical attributes are important they aren’t the only way to measure a player.  Harris doesn’t play bigger than his 5’10″ stature but he does play better than a lot of bigger corners.  General manager Dave Caldwell has said that he won’t worry too much about a player’s measurables if the player can play better than others, I think that Harris could be one of those players.  Whether he is actually going to be the team’s breakout player or not is a little bit different.

- Luke N. Sims

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Dec. 16, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: Arizona Cardinals cornerback Greg Toler against the Detroit Lions at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The Jags will likely be looking for one or two cornerbacks this offseason.  If Derek Cox does leave the team in free agency, then the holes get very wide in the secondary.  2012 rookie Mike Harris worked his way up from the bottom of the depth chart to starter during the season and he will likely remain there with Rashean Mathis and William Middleton set to his free agency, and Aaron Ross continuing to underwhelm.  Even if Cox does stay with the team, his injury history suggests that the Jags will need another player who can step up.

Enter Greg Toler.

Not included in my list of free agent cornerbacks to watch, Toler is a suggestion from commenter Vallenii, and I’m glad he brought him up.  With the Jags unlikely to spend much money in free agency, the team will be looking for affordable and effective players to fill voids.  His contract in 2012 with the Arizona Cardinals was for one year and $1.26 million.  The Jags could likely space out money over more time if they feel that Toler can be an effective third cornerback and occasional starter.

Toler had two starts in 2012 against the Atlanta Falcons and St. Louis Rams.  In those two games, he allowed 45% of passes targeted toward the receiver he was covering to be caught.  This is only a few points higher than his season average of 41.5% allowed (best in the league).  In comparison, Harris allowed 65.9% of passes his way to be caught, and Cox allowed 60.7% to be caught.  Harris and Toler were both targeted 41 times while Cox was targeted 89 times.

Of Toler, Harris, and Cox, Toler forced quarterbacks to the lowest QB rating (51.5) on the season.  Cox (69) and Harris (81.7) were not near the worst in the league, but they were considerably far behind Toler.  In fact, Toler was fifth in the league in opposing team QB rating, being just ahead of Tim Jennings and just behind Lardarius Webb.

So, will the Jags want Toler?  More importantly, will he be cheap?

The Jags will have an interest in Toler for two reasons.

1. His size.  Another commenter, Dave Nelson, had this to say about what Bradley wants in a cornerback: “Jacksonville needs to get similar corners to what Bradley worked with in Seattle. Tough, physical, tall, well-built corners.”  I agree.  At 5’11″ 191 pounds, Toler could very well be the well-built, physical corner Bradley wants, even if he is four inches shorter than Richard Sherman
2. Gus Bradley is familiar with him.  Playing in the NFC West, I guarantee that Bradley is familiar with what Toler can do and how he operates.  This could be a double edged sword for Toler.  While I like his production, Bradley may have better insight into it and be less impressed.  Then again, maybe he is a player that Bradley has coveted during his time with Seattle.

So, will he be cheap?

$1.26 isn’t exactly super cheap, but the Jags wouldn’t be paying for an unpolished player.  Toler was drafted in the fourth round of the 2009 draft and continues to impress each year.  He is behind strong competition on an excellent Cardinals defense.  I think he may want to prove something with a different team.  He has injury issues, which has contributed to him only starting two games in 2012, despite being named a starter in 2010.  If the Jags are willing to take a swing at another player who is talented but has the potential for injury, then Toler could be their man.

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco called Toler a value player, and it doesn’t take long to see that he’s right.  The question now becomes, is he so good that Arizona desperately tries to bring him back?  Or will the Jags be able to swoop in and get a decent corner for relatively no trouble?

- Luke N. Sims

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You can also find me on Twitter @LukeNSims