NFL Draft grades: Analysts praise Seattle Seahawks for pick of Olu Oluwatimi

Michigan football center Olu Oluwatimi was taken in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft at No. 154 overall by the Seattle Seahawks, joining teammate Mike Morris who went a few picks earlier.

Oluwatimi began his college career at Air Force before transferring to Virginia and later Michigan. He started 46 games at center in his career, 14 of which came last season in Ann Arbor. He was the program’s third-ever Rimington winner and its first recipient of the Outland Award. Oluwatimi’s play made him a first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation, Sporting News, FWAA, and AFCA and a second-team selection by the AP.

Most believed Oluwatimi was a mid-round prospect, so it was good value in that spot. The experts agreed with mostly positive feedback.

Here is a roundup of what pundits across the nation had to say.

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• Olu Oluwatimi selected by Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft

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Ryan Gosling, Pro Football Network: A+

The Seattle Seahawks got off to a roaring start in the 2023 NFL Draft. It’s funny that despite the obvious need at cornerback, few pegged Devon Witherspoon to Seattle at No. 5. The pairing between him and Tariq Woolen is a lethal combination.

Adding Jaxon Smith-Njigba may be an even greater fit for Seattle, whose passing attack is based on efficiency at the highest level. Smith-Njigba may quickly become Geno Smith’s best friend. Derick Hall is a bit stiff, but he possesses the wingspan of a wandering albatross and uses his explosiveness and length well.

And while Zach Charbonnet was a bit underwhelming because Kenneth Walker III just got into town, what would a Seahawks draft be without making a head-tilting RB selection? Nevertheless, he’s a talented player who complements Walker well.

Nick Gray, The Tennessean: A

Josh Edwards, CBS Sports

“Olusegun Oluwatimi is a refined, powerful, one-on-one battler at center. He has awesome hand work. He’s constantly working to reset and gain the advantage with his hand positioning. He has a great anchor. He’s not stiff but not a nimble, in-space mover. It’s rare to see him on the ground. His balance is awesome, and he understands angles very well and utilizes that knowledge to his advantage in the run and pass game. His acknowledgement of the importance of blocking angles shows by how he never stops moving his feet; he’s always working to get better leverage, which I love about his game. He has plenty of length for the position, too. He’s not an athletic, twitchy specimen but a well-sized, very refined blocker who can step in and excel right away in a system that won’t ask him to fly around in space too frequently.”

Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: B+

The reigning Rimington Trophy winner joins the Seattle Seahawks. Even as a fifth-round pick, the experienced blocker may immediately slot in as a starter because the position was a void entering this year’s draft.

Joey Hunt and Evan Brown are serviceable. But Oluwatimi shows excellent understanding of how to play the position and take excellent angles.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

A one-year starter at Michigan, Oluwatimi was an ideal fit at center in head coach Jim Harbaugh’s power-spread offense. After an All-American junior season at Virginia, he took his talents to Ann Arbor for the 2022 season and stocked his shelves with the Rimington Award (nation’s top center), Outland Trophy (nation’s top interior lineman) and the Joe Moore Award (nation’s top offensive line).

Oluwatimi shows a natural understanding of blocking angles and works hard to stay in between ball and defender. However, he doesn’t create consistent spacing in the run game and lacks ideal range and sustain skills as a pass blocker. Overall, Oluwatimi doesn’t have the position versatility, explosiveness or point of attack power that most NFL teams desire, but he is a cerebral, assignment-sound blocker with A-plus character. He is a potential rotational center in the NFL.

Steve Muench, ESPN.com

Oluwatimi is a four-year starter and a powerful finisher who takes sound angles and consistently gets movement in the run game. He shows excellent awareness in pass pro. He has a strong punch and helps his guards when no one comes to him initially. Oluwatimi senses late arrivals and does a good job of getting back into position to prevent leakage.