Potential Day 3 Pick Could be Diamond in Rough for Cardinals

We're less than ten days away from the 2023 NFL Draft, and the Arizona Cardinals have some obvious holes to fill on the roster.

With the departures of J.J. Watt, Zach Allen and Markus Golden in the front seven, the Cardinals will look to utilize either their first or second-round pick on somebody who can rush the passer.

Byron Murphy leaving in free agency also opens up for one of those other picks to become a corner that can pair with Marco Wilson in the secondary.

With DeAndre Hopkins and Budda Baker potentially set to be traded, Arizona could also address either of receiver or safety at some point early on as well.

The Cardinals (as of now) have four picks in the first three rounds, which covers both Day 1 and Day 2. That leaves four picks on Day 3, which covers rounds 4-7.

One underrated need for the Cardinals is addressing the offensive line, which is in dire need of a youth movement.

Though Arizona could be in the market to snag a top interior offensive lineman in the second or third round, Pro Football Focus says Michigan Wolverines center Olu Oluwatimi would be a perfect for the Cardinals as a Day 3 pick.

Potential Day 3 Pick Could be Diamond in Rough for Cardinals

"Oluwatimi is one of the more NFL-ready centers in the draft class. It helps when you have four years of starting experience and 3,479 career snaps to your name. His 83.0 and 90.2 run-blocking grades in the past two seasons would be a welcome addition for Arizona," said PFF.

The Cardinals will need a long-term answer to replace Rodney Hudson after his retirement, and drafting Oluwatimi could be a great long-term play.

His draft profile on NFL.com reads as:

"Four-year starter and highly decorated player who was part of a unit that won the Joe Moore Award (best offensive line in college football) in consecutive years. Oluwatimi benefited from tight splits and a scheme designed to take advantage of double teams up front.

"He will bend a little at the waist, but displays good technique on double teams and generates decent drive on base blocks. He lacks the lateral quickness needed for range as a run blocker and must learn to better recognize and respond to twists in pass protection. Oluwatimi has future starting potential but could struggle in a scheme that forces him to play in space."

Oluwatimi would likely have the luxury to sit behind somebody else and settle his feet in the world of professional football. The Cardinals - heading into a rebuilding phase anyways - wouldn't need a player in his position to shine from his first day on the field either.

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