3 under-the-radar Seattle Seahawks rookies to watch in training camp

The Seattle Seahawks seem to have done well with their 2023 NFL draft picks. This rookie class will have their first opportunities to make an impression during the preseason.

First-round picks Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Devon Witherspoon highlight this year's class and will likely be starters out of training camp. Witherspoon has to first beat out 2022 starter Michael Jackson for the corner spot opposite Tariq Woolen if Seattle doesn't start Witherspoon at nickel. Smith-Njigba will be WR3 to begin with, but Seattle will likely have a lot of three receivers sets (because, why not?).

However, this article will talk about a few under-the-radar rookies in this year's class that will be competing for starting jobs in 2023. Seattle could find at least four immediate starters in the 2023 class. The three players that follow have excellent chances to be among that group of starters.

Three Seahawks rookies might be surprising starters in Week 1

Center Olu Oluwatimi

There will be competition at center, as Seattle will look to find a replacement for Austin Blythe, who started all 17 regular season games in 2022. Rookie Olu Oluwatimi is already in competition with veteran free agent acquisition Evan Brown for the position. So far each of them has split snaps at the beginning of training camp.

The Seahawks started two rookie offensive tackles in 2022 with Abe Lucas and Charles Cross winning starting spots at left and right tackle. Could Olu Oluwatimi be the next rookie to earn a starting position on the Seahawks offensive line?

Nose tackle Cameron Young

Given the Seahawks' struggles stopping the run in 2022, along with departures from defensive linemen Al Woods and Poona Ford in free agency, the nose tackle position is currently up for grabs. Cameron Young was selected in the fourth round out of Mississippi State in the 2023 NFL Draft. Young will compete with free agent acquisition Jarran Reed for the spot. Young had 110 tackles during his college career at Mississippi State and could possibly earn the position of nose tackle at the end of the preseason.

Edge and outside linebacker Derick Hall

The Seahawks were thrilled when they had the opportunity to select Derick Hall with their first second-round pick. He has an amazing backstory to go with his impressive traits as an edge rusher and outside linebacker. Hall was a ferocious pass rusher at Auburn racking up 19.5 sacks while in college.

Even though the Seahawks are expected to be deep at edge rusher and outside linebacker this year (they did address defensive end in free agency with the acquisition of Dre'Mont Jones and recently extended Uchenna Nwosu before training camp started). Expect Hall to compete for a spot in the defensive line rotation or outside linebacker position given his impressive strength and athleticism.

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