Seahawks address O-line, draft Cross with 9th pick

The Seattle Seahawks selected Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, No. 9 overall.

The Seahawks were believed to be a candidate to select a quarterback but passed on all the top passers to address their oft-maligned offensive line.

Cross developed into a consistent pass-protector at Mississippi State, though his work in the run game reportedly left some teams questioning his ability to thrive as an immediate starter.

The Seahawks have a hole to fill at left tackle, as veteran Duane Brown is a free agent. Seattle has drawn criticism in recent years for its lack of investment in the offensive line; the franchise has drafted only one offensive lineman - Ethan Pocic - in the top two rounds since 2017.

Scouting profile: Charles Cross

Tasked with shutting down SEC pass-rushers in an offense that throws the ball as much as any program, Cross was more than up to the job. To perform at the level he did in a situation like that tells you everything you need to know about his potential at the next level. The Mississippi State product rarely finds himself out of position in his pass sets, helping him shut down both speed to the edge and counters back inside. When opponents turn to power, Cross anchors to shut that down, too. The run game is a bit of a question mark, but a lack of reps truly may be all that stands in the way of him making a major impact there. Either way, offensive linemen are paid to protect the quarterback, and Cross does that as well as anyone in this class.