Seahawks Draft: Ranking C Prospects; A 3rd Weapon Alongside Cross, Lucas?

Changing starting centers like a person changes clothes in recent years, the Seattle Seahawks desperately need a long-term solution at center. Reporter Corbin Smith ranks his top center prospects, including three Big Ten products who could go in the first three rounds.

With less than two weeks remaining until the 2023 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks will soon be on the clock with the fifth overall pick and hold 10 total selections, presenting a prime opportunity to bolster their roster with young talent.

For the better part of the past decade, Seattle has been playing musical chairs at center and has had three different starters over the past three seasons. After losing Austin Blythe to retirement, even with Evan Brown signing a one-year deal as a free agent last month, finding a long-term solution at the pivot position remains a critical need for the offensive line.

As part of my annual prospect rankings, here's where each of the top center prospects from the 2023 class falls on my top 300 with quick scouting reports and reported visits with the Seahawks if applicable.

*Players are listed in order by position with overall ranking in parenthesis.

Tier 1 - First-Round Talent

1 (25). John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota

Reported Visit: Combine Formal, Pro Day

A load of blocker at 6-3, 305 pounds, Schmitz plays bigger than his size at the pivot position and earned a well-deserved reputation as a menacing, tenacious road-grader. Playing with ideal leverage and powerful, active hands, he consistently created push off the snap on gap-run plays and showcased enough lateral quickness to excel on zone concepts as well. Stout in pass protection, he's a polished prospect ready to start immediately and could be a Pro Bowler in quick order.

Tier 2 - Second/Third-Round Talent

2 (53). Joe Tippmann, Wisconsin

Far taller than most centers at 6-6, Tippman fights a constant leverage battle to get underneath the pads of defenders and his hands tend to sneak outside too frequently. But he has excellent movement skills for his size, capable of reaching defensive tackles and swinging his hips open as a puller to kick defenders out. Coupled with his quality pass protection skills and top-notch communication, he's a strong all-around center with early starter potential and scheme flexibility.

3 (74). Olu Oluwatimi, Michigan

Though he's not a mauler and athletic limitations could create scheme questions, Oluwatimi is capable of creating displacement at the line of scrimmage with a strong initial punch and has enough lateral quickness to excel as a zone blocker. In pass protection, he's astute at calling out blitzes and setting calls for the rest of the offensive line with over 3,500 snaps at the college level. Such experience in a pro style offense should allow him to start immediately as a viable day two prospect.

© Doral Chenoweth/The Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK

5 (89). Luke Wypler, Ohio State

While undersized at only 303 pounds, Wypler has more than functional athleticism executing reach blocks, pulling on counter and power, and climbing to the second level. He isn't an enforcer at the line of scrimmage and rarely wins with power or strength at the point of attack, but he understands the art of body positioning and sterling pass pro against speed and power should make him one of the first centers to fly off the board on day two.

Tier 3 - Day Three/Undrafted Talent

5 (112). Steve Avila, TCU

Light on his feet for his size at 332 pounds, Avila mirrors well against all types of defenders, sliding to keep pass rushers at bay and allowing zero sacks as a senior. While he can play a bit upright at times and lose leverage in the run game while also slipping off blocks rather than maintaining them, he fires heavy hands into defenders and regularly knocks them off the ball. Such physicality and pass blocking prowess should allow him to be a day one starter at center or guard in the league in late day two or early day three.

6 (131). Alex Forsyth, Oregon

An experienced starter with three All-Pac 12 selections on his resume, Forsyth has good pop with his hands off the line of scrimmage and exhibits great command communicating with the rest of the offensive line. What may hold him back as a pro, however, is his lack of athleticism, as he posted poor numbers at the combine and struggled in pass protection against quick defensive tackles. Those limitations may render him a career backup, but experience gives him a shot to start in right situation.

7 (197). Ricky Stromberg, Arkansas

A stellar communicator who made line calls against all types of fronts as a four-year starter, Stromberg can create push in the run game despite weighing only 306 pounds and plays an aggressive brand of football. This can lead to him flying towards blocks out of control at times and catching himself in recovery mode with rushers shooting past him, but he made major improvements allowing no sacks last season. His versatility as a gap and zone blocker makes him a day three target with starter upside.

© Mickey Welsh / Advertiser

8 (205). Jake Andrews, Troy

Reported Visit: Top-30 Official

Seeing action at all three interior line spots after opening his college career as a tight end for the Trojans, Andrews found a home at center last season, earning First-Team All-Sun Belt honors and a Senior Bowl invite. Athletically, he lacks in the lateral agility department and has had issues mirroring pass rushers at time due to plodding feet. But he's a force knocking defenders off the ball and his strength gives him a chance to be a potential starter down the road in the right scheme.

9 (217). Juice Scruggs, Penn State

Similar to Forsyth, Scruggs plays with sound fundamentals and checks off the intangible boxes as a multi-year starter with team captain on his resume. Offering center and guard starting experience, he plays hard and doesn't get pushed around in the trenches, which will appeal to some teams at the pivot position. But he has his own athletic limitations and struggles blocking more athletic defenders in a phone booth, likely knocking him into the later rounds.

Previous Positional Rankings

Defensive Tackle | Quarterback | EDGE/Defensive End

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