3 most important Seahawks for the future on the current roster

Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross

Russell Wilson appeared to complain more and more about the Seahawks offensive line before Wilson was eventually traded. On one hand, Seattle never had the best offensive line in the NFL during Wilson’s time in Seattle from 2012 through 2021. On the other hand, Wilson’s contract and Seattle’s overall success did not allow the Seahawks to choose a potentially great offensive lineman in the first round.

Seattle was too good for a high-round pick. Wilson’s contract would have made it difficult for Seattle to pay a very good offensive lineman much past any rookie deal anyway. But Wilson’s complaints also were a bit overblown.

Wilson played 10 seasons for Seattle. In 9 of those years, his left tackle was either Duane Brown or Russell Okung. Brown made the Pro Bowl twice as a Seahawk and Okung once. While right tackle was an issue quite a bit, holding on to the ball too long was just as much an issue when it came to Wilson taking sacks.

But every team needs a very good left tackle and Brown and Okung are now gone. Seattle chose Charles Cross with the number 9 overall choice in the 2022 NFL draft and Cross is expected to immediately be a very good pass blocker. He also will likely be a better run blocker in 2022 than many expect him to be.

If Seattle chose wisely with Cross then that means if he plays 10 years at a high level, and he should be capable of doing so, then 18 of those 20 years Seattle would have had either Okung, Brown or Cross at left tackle and that’s a good thing. Or Cross could just be a complete bust and that sets the team back five years. No pressure.