The Cardinals agreed to a one-year contract with cornerback Antoine Cason Friday.

In the division with two strong teams with good passing games, the Cardinals were always going to try and upgrade their cornerbacks corps.

While an effort to bring back Greg Toler didn't work out, the Cards have made sure Patrick Peterson wasn't left out on an island – at least, no more than a cornerback normally would be.

A couple of days after signing Jerraud Powers to a three-year contract, the Cards followed up by agreeing to a one-year contract

with former San Diego Chargers No. 1 pick (and one time University of Arizona star) Antoine Cason Friday.

The two will join Peterson to be the Cardinals' cornerbacks in the nickel alignment, a solid move given that all three have been starters.

Powers and Cason figure to battle for the starting job opposite Peterson, although in this day and age a third cornerback often logs as many snaps as a starter given the many passing formations offenses use.

Cason had two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 11 passes defensed last year for the Chargers. He'll get a one-year deal in a depressed cornerbacks market – Adam Caplan reports it's for $1.5 million, with another $500,000 in incentives – in the hope he can try again for a better long-term deal next year.

In the meantime, the Cardinals seem to have achieved their upgrade at cornerback. They still have 2012 third-round draft pick Jamell Fleming in the mix, while Justin Bethel has played both safety and cornerback. At safety, the team has Rashad Johnson and new signee Yeremiah Bell. They also figure to look into a draft class deep in safeties.