With the ninth overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Seattle Seahawks draft Charles Cross, an offensive tackle out of Mississippi State. Cross is a talented offensive lineman and brings a high ceiling, which is what you’re looking for out of your first-round draft pick. Let’s take a closer look at Seahawks’ newest offensive lineman.
Charles Cross Highlights
Seahawks Draft Charles Cross | 2022 NFL Draft Profile
Charles Cross
Position: Offensive Tackle
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 307 lbs
Age: 21
College: Mississippi State Bulldogs
Charles Cross Draft Profile
Strengths
The lateral agility and mirror ability of Charles Cross is great. He will be able to stay in front of edge rushers no matter the level, and he will be extremely light on his feet when doing so. Cross also has great length and uses it extremely well, with his punch and hand placement being nearly picture perfect. He has also shown the ability to be coachable, making big strides in his game every season.
Weaknesses
Cross’ stance is a bit tight, which leads to big first steps. This makes him prone to being off-balance early. He could also get a bit deeper on his pass set. Playing at Mississippi State, he played in a zone-blocking scheme. So, he doesn’t have experience in a pro-style scheme, though it’s not rocket science once you get to this level.
RELATED | Full Charles Cross NFL Draft Profile and Highlights
What to Expect From Charles Cross in 2022
It’s clear that Charles Cross is going to be a Week 1 starter for the Seahawks. You don’t draft a lineman this early for them to sit. Cross is a consistent player from week to week, but that encompasses both the good and the bad. Widening his base and staying disciplined with this should improve his game a lot. However, he cannot change his length. There will be some edge rushers that get the better of Cross, but he has the tools to win more often than not.
Some will label this a “boom-or-bust” pick, but I believe that is selling Charles Cross a bit short. He should be a good player for Seattle Seahawks.
