Mincey broke out with a big 2012. (Getty Images)

The Jaguars moved into free agency and kept a pair of their own on Tuesday night. According to reports, Jacksonville's re-signed both defensive end Jeremy Mincey and safety Dwight Lowery.

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Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union spoke to Lowery, our 43rd-rated free agent, and reports that "after a tough negotiation," the Jags were able to bring the converted safety back into the fold.

"I would really like to thank [general manager] Gene Smith and Tim [Walsh] for their hard work and their commitment to me as a player,” Lowery told Ganguli over the phone. "Also, to the coaching staff. I know that Mel [Tucker, defensive coordinator] and I have a pretty good relationship. I’m sure he played a part in everything that’s been going on. Teammates, they — when I was in New York I didn’t really connect with my teammates the way I did in Jacksonville. There were a lot of factors going on. It was done right."

Lowery's speaking of his time with the Jets -- he was there for three years after being drafted in the fourth round. Lowery started 10 games his rookie season but struggled at cornerback. The Jets dealt him to the Jaguars and under Tucker, Lowery turned his game around as a full-time safety.

Mincey, our 23rd-rated free agent and one of the top defensive ends on the market, agreed to a four-year deal with the Jags, according to Aaron Wilson of Scout.com. Ganguli reports that the deal is worth a max of $27.2 million and contains $9 million in guaranteed money.

He'd been courted by the Bears as well, but as Mincey noted on Twitter, he just had too much love for the Jaguars.

"Chicago!!! what a great organization," Mincey tweeted early Wednesday morning. "But, Gene Smith fought for me in a Very Tough fight.... PROUD TO BE A JAG!! DUUUUUVALLLLL!!!"

The defensive lineman was taken in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Patriots, Mincey landed on the 49ers practice squad before the Jaguars signed him. He dealt with injuries and struggled until becoming a starter midway through the 2010 season in Jacksonville. Last year, he started all 16 games and recorded eight sacks for the Jaguars, which led the team.

Keeping he and Lowery on board was critical for a defense that actually managed to keep the Jaguars in some games during 2011.