The Seahawks used the ninth pick of the 2022 draft to select Mississippi State left tackle Charles Cross, a player general manager John Schneider referred to as “a pillar at left tackle” for Seattle going forward.
“The guy just checks all the boxes,” Schneider said Thursday night. “When he was still there (at No. 9), it was a big deal.”
Said Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, “There’s just nothing that we didn’t like. Really, every aspect of it—the grit that he brings is going to be really a complement to the rest of our guys.”
In addition to Carroll and Schneider’s thoughts on the Cross pick, which you can read here, here are five things to know about the Seahawks’ first-round pick:
1. He’s was near the top of almost everyone’s draft rankings.
Cross was one of the nation’s top recruits coming out of high school, and he lived up to that billing with the Bulldogs, earning first-team All-SEC honors last season, as well as All-America recognition from ESPN and The Sporting News.
According to Pro Football Focus, which had Cross as the No. 3 prospect, regardless of position, on their big board, Cross allowed only 16 pressures on 719 pass-blocking snaps in 2021. Perhaps most impressively, he didn’t allow a pressure on 66 pass-blocking snaps against Alabama last season.
Here are some of the pre-draft scouting reports on Cross:
Cross has prototypical traits to be a blindside pass protector. His feet, length and core strength are all top notch. He’s been in pass protection a ton over the past two seasons.
What’s his role: Left Tackle
Cross is a left tackle. There will likely be a learning curve early on but get this guy on the football field.
What can he Improve: Footwork
The most encouraging thing for Cross is that he can still improve a lot of areas within his skill set. He graded very well despite inconsistent footwork.
Two-year starter who plays with a high level of consistency from game to game, no matter the opponent. Cross is an average athlete but he’s strong, plays to his length…