A method of controlling storage of content on a storage device includes communicating with a storage device configured to cache content; and determining a storage cost for caching a first set of data objects on the storage device. The determining is based, at least in part, on characteristics of the first set of data objects and on characteristics of the storage device. Also provided is a storage system that includes a storage device capable of caching media content, a storage device agent and a cache manager. The storage device agent is operative to communicate with the storage device and with the cache manager, and to provide a storage cost to the cache manager. The storage device agent determines the storage cost for caching a data object on the storage device based, at least in part, on characteristics of the data object and on characteristics of the storage device.