Silver and Black Ink FA Linebacker Hartwell

The Raiders offseason of looking to upgrade their defense continued on Tuesday, as the team came to terms with free-agent linebacker Edgerton Hartwell.  The 30-year-old hasn’t been much of a factor, as he has been hurt most of the last three years, and didn’t play at all last season after being cut by the Bengals before the start of the season.

In 2005 and 2006 with the Falcons, he played in just a total of 13 games due to injuries to his knee and Achilles tendon.  If healthy, he will add some depth to the Raiders linebacker core of Kirk Morrison and Thomas Howard.  Getting the Raiders defense has been a priority this offseason, as last year they allowed a league-worst 4.8 yards per carry.