The Seahawks have spent years living with the consequences of treating the offensive line like an afterthought. That part of the roster has produced more frustration than stability, especially through the Pete Carroll era. But at left tackle, Seattle has usually been willing to pay for the good stuff.
That approach started with Russell Okung, the first draft pick of the Schneider-Carroll partnership, taken sixth overall. Injuries were part of the story, and the team never handed him a second contract, but he still delivered six solid seasons.
When that spot needed help again, Seattle patched it with a trade for Duane Brown after a stretch of George Fant and Rees Odhiambo. The price was steep, but the Seahawks got four-and-a-half dependable seasons from a three-time Pro Bowler before he moved on after 2021.
Then came Charles Cross, selected out of Mississippi State with Seattle’s first pick in 2022. He stepped in right away and handled the job as a rookie, then played 14 quality games in 2023 despite missing time with turf toe.
By 2024, the question was whether he could hold up in a bigger sample. The pressure numbers were ugly, but the Seahawks were throwing the ball a ton under offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb, and Pro Football Focus still liked what it saw.
Even then, Seattle wasn’t ready to commit long term, sticking with the fifth-year option while it waited to see more.
What followed in 2025 gave the front office its answer. Cross’s PFF grades dipped a bit, but he gave up far fewer pressures and posted a lower pressure rate in a run-first offense.
He also missed three games in December because of an injury, yet the overall season still landed in the “very good” category. Maybe he’s not quite an elite blindside blocker, but he’s close enough to make a difference.
Seattle moved fast once it had seen enough. The deal is four years and $104.4 million, layered on top of the fifth-year option already in place.
Cross then backed it up with a strong postseason, and now he’s locked in as the long-term answer at left tackle. If he stays on this path, his run in Seattle should outlast both Okung and Brown, giving the Seahawks something they haven’t had since Walter Jones.
In Other News...
Seahawks Sale Finally Has A Twist Fans Have Been Waiting On
The Seahawks sale has moved into a more defined phase, even if the Paul G. Allen Estate still has not offered any public update on where things stand. For a process that has been mostly quiet from the outside, the latest shift matters because the field appears to be narrowing, with the kinds of deep-pocketed, high-profile bidders that usually shape a franchise sale starting to separate themselves from the rest.
Steve Apostolopoulos and Todd Boehly are reportedly no longer in the mix, which only sharpens the sense that the race is tightening around a smaller group of serious contenders. Early expectations had the teams price tag landing in the $9 billion to $11 billion range, and with the estate keeping its cards close to the vest, the next real clue may come only when the final bidding picture becomes clearer. [Read more 🡒]
Maxx Crosby Trade Talk Just Put Raiders Fans On Edge
Maxx Crosbys name has already been floating through the rumor mill as Seattle looks ahead to the 2026 season, and the idea alone is enough to get attention because it would mean a major swing for a defense that is always hunting for difference-makers. Crosbys situation has been unusual from the start, with a previous deal to Baltimore getting undone after he failed a physical, leaving him back with Las Vegas and keeping the door open for more speculation around his future.
If Seattle ever gets serious about making the move, the price would almost certainly be steep, likely involving premium draft capital and at least one player to make the math work. The tricky part is figuring out where the line falls, because some names would be far more realistic trade chips than others, and any discussion of a deal like this quickly turns into a test of how far the Seahawks are willing to go to chase an elite pass rusher. [Read more 🡒]
Byron Murphy II Just Got The Perfect Fuel For 2026
Byron Murphy II had the kind of 2025 season that usually pushes a young defensive tackle into the leagues upper tier. He was a disruptive part of Seattles championship run, piling up tackles, sacks and pressure while flashing the pass-rush juice that makes interior linemen so valuable in todays NFL.
So when ESPNs annual survey of league executives, coaches and scouts left Murphy with only an honorable mention, it had to feel like a little extra motivation heading into 2026. The Seahawks have every reason to believe the resume is already there, and Murphy now has a clear reminder that the next step is turning a strong season into the kind of reputation that gets him mentioned with the leagues best. [Read more 🡒]