The last time the Seahawks had a top 10 draft pick, they selected offensive tackle Russell Okung in 2010 at No. 6. They went down that road again in 2022, taking Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross with the ninth overall pick.

Brock Huard: Top Hawks pick Cross a lot like Duane Brown

The Seahawks entered the 2022 NFL Draft with glaring holes at offensive tackle as 2021 starters Duane Brown and Brandon Shell are still free agents. Now, they have a 21-year-old tackle coming to Seattle.

The newest Seahawk, @CharlesC_67!

📺: 2022 #NFLDraft – April 28-30 on NFLN/ESPN/ABC pic.twitter.com/w6Za4puWX7

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) April 29, 2022

Cross stands 6 foot 5 and weighs roughly 310 pounds. He earned first-team All-SEC honors at Mississippi State in 2021, where he played for former WSU Cougars head coach Mike Leach.

“Two-year starter who plays with a high level of consistency from game to game, no matter the opponent,” NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein wrote of Cross. “Cross is an average athlete but he’s strong, plays to his length and has sticky, strong hands. Despite limited starting experience, he’s well-schooled and knows how to play.”

Cross is not just a tall offensive tackle, but he is long with 34.5-inch arms, per his NFL Scouting Combine measurements. He also ran the 40-yard dash in 4.95 seconds, which was 10th best among offensive linemen and sixth best among offensive tackles.

Cross declared for the 2022 NFL Draft after his redshirt sophomore season and was one of the youngest prospects in the draft.

Yessir!!!! Congrats Charles Cross!!!!!!!!!! Welcome to Seahawks Nation!!

— Tyler Lockett (@TDLockett12) April 29, 2022

While Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy, a former Seahawks scout, didn’t get to see Cross up close in Mobile this year, he had some good things to say about the young tackle during a pre-draft conversation with Seattle Sports 710 AM’s Jake and Stacy.

Cross played for an Air Raid system under Leach, which led to some questions about his overall strength. Nagy said his 2021 tape showed he was a much-improved player from 2021.

“He had concerns a little bit about play strength and anchor a year ago and then this year did a really nice job,” he said. “You watch him against Alabama or Michael Clemons, who is a big, long-armed defensive end from Texas A&M who’s got a ton of power and (Cross) sat down on him pretty good.”

Cross was considered by many draft analysts as one of the top, if not the top, pass protector in this year’s draft. While it’s unclear who will be starting at quarterback for the Seahawks in 2022, it is clear that they have an exciting young offensive tackle blocking in front of them.

The Seahawks do not currently hold another first-round pick this year, but they have two early second rounders (picks 40 and 41), which some think could be used to trade back up into the first round.

More Seahawks draft selections

• Seahawks add Minnesota pass rusher Boye Mafe with 40th pick
• Hawks draft Michigan State RB Kenneth Walker at 41
• Seahawks take standout WSU OT Abraham Lucas in third round
• Seahawks add to secondary in fourth with Cincy CB Coby Bryant
• Seattle nabs long, speedy UTSA CB Tariq Woolen in fifth round
• Hawks pick Ohio State edge rusher Tyreke Smith in fifth
• Hawks end draft with 2 WRs in Rutgers’ Melton, Lenoir-Rhyne’s Young

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