Ed Hartwell

Hartwell will move to the weakside linebacker spot for head coach Marvin Lewis, who was actually his defensive coordinator during his rookie season in Baltimore. In deep IDP leagues, Hartwell could be a nice cheap source of tackles in the final rounds if he stays healthy.

The Falcons' starting middle linebacker returns and should be a run-stopping, tackling machine once again this season.

The key to projecting Hartwell lies not with his mediocre past two seasons next to Ray Lewis on the inside of Baltimore’s 3-4 scheme, but the 103 solo tackles and three sacks he logged in 2002 when Lewis went down with an injury. Given the chance, Hartwell can produce with the best of them, and he’s now the lone middleman in Atlanta’s 4-3 lineup, playing next to Keith Brooking in last year’s most prolific sack squad. Hartwell was the most coveted free agent linebacker for a reason and may benefit more than any other defender from an offseason move.

Hartwell will enter camp as the starting strong side linebacker.

Last season Hartwell entrenched himself as the every down starter at left inside linebacker. In a season where the Ravens lost perennial pro bowler Ray Lewis for the final 11 games, Hartwell stepped up and lead the team in tackles (191) and solo tackles (125). He also contributed three sacks. With Lewis back at full strength, Hartwell's individual tackles will decrease, but the team defense will be improved.