Cross: Checked!
Seahawks exercise the 5th-year option for Charles Cross
As we’ve been expecting — although for some reason John Schneider declined to comment on the fifth-year option multiple times this month — the Seattle Seahawks are exercising the option for tackle Charles Cross, per Ian Rapoport.
The 5th-year option for Cross is $17.5 million in 2026. That’s tied with Cooper Kupp for the fourth-most on the Seahawks payroll next year, but that’s assuming that players like Kupp and Uchenna Nwosu are still on the team.
2022 draft class decisions so far
Prior to the Cross decision, the first six players drafted in 2022 had their options picked up: Travon Walker, Aidan Hutchinson, Derek Stingley, Sauce Gardner, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Ikem Ekwonu.
The Giants declined the option for seventh overall pick Evan Neal.
The three players drafted after Cross, all of whom are receivers — Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jameson Williams — had theirs picked up.
Of the first 12 players drafted in 2022, only Cross and Drake London had not had their teams announce a decision on the fifth-year option. Now it’s only London. Schneider declined to speak about it over the weekend, but now we know that Seattle is going to pay the $17.5 million (same as Ekwonu, who is probably a better run blocker and a worse pass protector than Cross) and for good reason.