Seattle Seahawks 2022 NFL Draft: 5 First Round Targets With No. 9 Pick
By Kyle Edmond
Seattle Seahawks First Round Target #1: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State
Offensive line has been a need for the Seattle Seahawks for a long time. The picks that have come in have struggled to find their rhythm and you can rely on veterans for only so long. With Wilson out in Seattle, the Seahawks can’t hope that their quarterback can keep the play alive anymore. The protection up front needs to be upgraded after allowing 46 sacks last season.
The Seahawks made a strong addition with Austin Blythe in the center of the line, but Jake Curhan and Stone Forsythe can’t be their starting tackles during the 2022 season. That can’t be the situation you put Drew Lock in, or any quarterback for that matter, and expect results.
Odds are by the ninth pick Evan Neal and Ikem Ekwonu will be off the board, even if there is a quarterback frenzy at the top of the draft. That will leave Seattle choosing between the rest of the field and one name being talked about in the tier directly below Neal and Ekwonu is Charles Cross.
Cross was a two-year starter that allowed him to gain experience and showcase consistency. Those are two key aspects for the Seahawks to monitor as they will help the transition to the NFL. Those two paired with his frame provide the base for a strong future in the NFL. There’s aspects that Cross will need to clean up, like his athleticism and not holding, but those can come in time. For now, he would make a great addition to this offensive line that direly needs help.