Preseason 2023 3-round mock draft for the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills third round selection in 2023 mock draft
The Pick: Olusegun Oluwatimi, Center Michigan
Measurables: 6-3, 310lbs
Although it may not be a sexy pick, the Bills do need to do some serious work on the interior offensive line. As mentioned earlier, Ryan Bates is the only guard under contract. While at the center position Mitch Morse is the only option for the Bills. Under contract through 2024, you may be surprised about the pick of a center here.
However, after the 2023 season, the Bills would save $9 million in cap space by releasing Morse and would be left with only $2 million in dead money. While they could restructure, extend, or let Morse play out his deal, I considered those savings when looking at this pick.
Olusegun Oluwatimi is one of the best-returning centers in college football. Transferring from Virginia and the ACC, Oluwatimi will hold down the center of the offensive line for Michigan this season. The best run-blocking center in the 2023 draft class Oluwatimi, displays fantastic blocking techniques and good strength and movement.
His intelligence on the field is one of the main reasons he finds such solid success. He can identify defensive line stunts and unique movements, rarely getting beaten by defensive play design. Oluwatimi uses his technique to win the hand battle often. While he may come up against bigger, stronger, or faster defensive linemen, his superior technique allows him to not only win blocks but sometimes bully opponents who are more athletically gifted.
As a pass blocker, Oluwatimi could improve some. He struggles to develop a strong base if moving backward after the snap. He can get a little eager when his assignments are not head up or shaded into his gaps. Oluwatimi tends to overextend his arms in both the pass and run game, leaving him prone to holding calls. His nine penalties were tied for 8th most amongst centers in college football last season.
However, Oluwatimi already has two of the most challenging things to develop between the strong run blocking technique and mental processing. Some extra strength would benefit Oluwatimi and work on his pass protection skills. Luckily Oluwatimi could sit behind Mitch Morse and work on those things for 1-2 seasons and take over the Center spot for the foreseeable future.
Oluwatimi may not be the go-to choice here position-wise, but in my opinion, there is a severe drop-off in offensive line talent at guard and tackle past the first two rounds. If the Bills were to address guard in round one as I did, I think you get great value in Oluwatimi compared to the other likely third-round options at guard and tackle.
