Seahawks get steals with Michigan Football draft picks

Two Michigan football players went to the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL and here’s why they got a couple of great values. 

The NFL draft process is kind of crazy. There are a lot of things that go into it, but looking back a few months, it wouldn’t have been shocking if both Mike Morris and Olu Oluwatimi — two Michigan football standouts — were drafted on the second day of the 2023 NFL draft.

Morris was in the midst of a breakout season in 2022 for Michigan football before he got hurt at the end of the season and was never really the same. That definitely hurt his draft stock.

The Seahawks still drafted the defensive lineman with the No. 151 overall pick in the fifth round. Morris had 11 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks last season for Michigan football and is listed at 6-foot-6, 278 pounds.

What I love about Morris is that he can do a bunch of different things. He can be a base defensive end in the 3-4 or the 4-3. He can rush the passer from defensive tackle and do it effectively as he did for the Wolverines during the 2021 season when they had Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo, or pressure from the edge as he did last season.

Morris is one of the better players I’ve seen in recent years at setting the edge too. He was a huge part of Michigan football’s stellar run defense the past two seasons and the Seahawks are getting a great value here. Morris may not be a starter in his first season, but he’s got starter potential and should be a valuable role player at the very least thanks to his versatility.

Seahawks also draft Riminginton Award winner

Three picks later Seattle also added depth to the offensive line with the selection of Olu Oluwatimi who was the Rimington Award winner last season playing for Michigan football.

The All-American seemed like he should have been a day-two pick but NFL teams seemed to sour on him a little. Part of it could be that the center position isn’t valued. Oluwatimi also isn’t quite as athletic as NFL teams want according to NFL.com’s scouting report with more centers doing more pulling in the run game, plus it’s important when talking about getting to the second level to block NFL linebackers.

I think it’s a little nitpicky though. Oluwatimi, at the very least, can be a valuable backup earlier in his career at guard and center. He reminds me a little of Corey Linsley, a guy that was drafted later in the draft by the Packers out of Ohio State.

Linsley was overlooked but became the starter very early in his career. The same thing could happen for Oluwatimi who is a true center. Those players are becoming harder to find.

At the very least, his chance at busting is pretty minimal. At the very least, his floor is that of a reliable spot starter and a quality backup, which is always needed. It’s hard to get through a season with just five or six guys and someone who can start at multiple spots is valuable.