A Former Wolverine Might Be the Answer Detroit Didn’t See Coming
Cade Mays is going to miss time until October. That’s not panic territory, but it’s also not nothing. The Lions have Seth McLaughlin and Juice Scruggs sitting right there, and either one could probably handle center duties for a month or two without embarrassing anyone. But if Brad Holmes wanted to make a low-risk move that actually upgrades the position for September, there’s a name floating around the trade market that should sound familiar to anyone who watched Michigan football a few years back.
Olu Oluwatimi.
Yes, that Olu Oluwatimi. The one who transferred to Michigan in 2022 from Virginia and proceeded to win both the Outland Trophy and the Rimington Trophy as the best center in college football. The one the Seattle Seahawks took in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The one who’s been stuck in rotation hell ever since.
What’s the Situation in Seattle?
Oluwatimi has played in 36 games for the Seahawks and started 13 of them. Last season he played in eight games and started four. That’s the resume of a guy who’s good enough to play but not entrenched enough to be untouchable.
According to Leo Vowel of 12th Man Rising, Seattle is moving toward Jalen Sundell as its starter, and Sundell’s athleticism could eventually push Oluwatimi out entirely. That makes Oluwatimi either a cut candidate or a potential trade piece, and if Detroit called, Seattle would probably listen.
What Would Detroit Actually Be Getting?
Let’s be clear. You’re not trading for a Pro Bowler. Those guys don’t get moved in August. What you’re getting is a former elite college center who has played meaningful NFL snaps and has never allowed a sack in 486 pass block snaps across 3 seasons. He’s allowed just 8 pressures total.
That’s pretty damn good for a sixth or seventh round pick.
Oluwatimi could walk in, hold down the center spot through September, and give the Lions exactly what they need until Mays is back. It also frees up Scruggs to keep competing at right guard or be a versatile depth piece, which is probably where he fits best anyway. Michael Niese can still spell some snaps. Tate Ratledge stays exactly where he is, which is at right guard and nowhere else.
Do the Lions Even Need to Make This Move?
Probably not. Holmes could roll with Scruggs or McLaughlin and be totally fine. Last year when Frank Ragnow went down it was a big deal because the Lions weren’t prepared. This time they are. They’ve got bodies who have actually played center in the NFL. They’ve got a plan.
But the question isn’t whether the Lions need to do this. It’s whether they should. For a sixth or seventh round pick, you’re talking about a guy with starting ability who started games last season and could immediately step in without needing three weeks to learn the system. He knows how to play the position at this level. He’s not some camp body.
If you’re Brad Holmes, you at least make the phone call. If Seattle says no or asks for more than a late round pick, fine, walk away. But if they’re willing to move him for something cheap, you’ve just upgraded your insurance policy for the cost of a lottery ticket.
That’s the kind of smart, low-risk move this front office has made its entire identity around. And yeah, maybe it doesn’t happen. Maybe Scruggs or McLaughlin ball out and this conversation becomes irrelevant by Week 2. But if there’s a chance to bring in a guy who won the Rimington Trophy and hasn’t allowed a sack in three NFL seasons for the price of a seventh rounder, you at least think about it.
So what do you think? Is Oluwatimi worth a late round flyer or should Holmes just ride with what he’s got? Drop your take below.
