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Why the Seahawks should pick up the fifth year option of Charles Cross

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Why the Seahawks should pick up the fifth year option of Charles Cross


With another season in the books, fans of the Seattle Seahawks can look back and once again complain about the poor play of the offensive line. It’s been a common theme for more than a decade, persevering through changes to the coaching staff, scheme and personnel.

The Seahawks have experienced various levels of success during that time period, from hoisting a Lombardi Trophy after dismantling the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII, to stumbling into last place with an injured Russell Wilson at the helm in 2021. However, through it all one fact remains true, and that is that as the twenty year anniversary of Walter Jones inking a seven-year, $52.5M contract with Seattle on February 16, 2005, that remains the single largest contract the Hawks have given to an offensive lineman in franchise history.

So minimal has spending on the offensive line for the Seahawks been over the past decade and a half that two of the largest single season cap hits for Seattle offensive linemen in franchise history are from contracts that were signed prior to the adoption of the previous CBA in 2011. For those curious, here are the top twelve largest single season cap hits for offensive linemen in franchise history, and, yes, the list was expanded from ten to twelve for a specific reason.

  • 1: Duane Brown (2020: $12.75M)
  • 2: Russell Okung (2014: $11.24M)
  • 3: Duane Brown (2019: $10.85M)
  • 4: Duane Brown (2021: $9.85M)
  • 5: Walter Jones (2009: $9.8M)
  • 6: Russell Okung (2013: $9.54M)
  • 7: Russell Okung (2014: $8.96M)
  • 8: Russell Okung (2011: $8.8M)
  • 9T: Walter Jones (2007: $8.6M)
  • 9T: Walter Jones (2008: $8.6M)
  • 11: Justin Britt (2019: $7.92M)
  • 12: Luke Joeckel (2017: $7.69M)

The reason this is brought up is because between now and early May the Seahawks front office will need to make a decision on the fifth year option of 2022 first round pick left tackle Charles Cross. As Field Gulls Managing Editor Mookie Alexander noted earlier in January, the fifth year option for Cross is projected to be $18.424M, which would instantly take over the top spot as the largest single season cap hit for a Seahawks offensive lineman in franchise history in pure dollar amounts.

In any case, regardless of where the fifth year option would fall for Cross relative to historic cap hits for Seattle offensive linemen, the reality is that his performance on the field has shown him to be a young up and comer, and with youth on his side an ability to continue to develop. Specifically, the Seahawks left Cross alone on an island at an unusually high rate during the 2024 season, and he outperformed expectations relative to the pass rushers he was tasked with blocking when left without help from a guard, tight end or running back.

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So, for those who have questioned what Cross has done to warrant having the fifth year option exercised or to be signed to a large extension, the answer is right here. His on field performance puts him on par with guys like Dion Dawkins, Trent Williams, Kolton Miller, Orlando Brown, Spencer Brown and other high performing, but not quite elite, tackles, and Cross is doing that while having just turned 24 in late November.

In short, he’s performing at a high level, and he’s doing it at a very young age. That’s the type of player that teams more often than not opt to extend, so here is what some of the players who fall in the area around Cross on that chart are earning on non-rookie contracts.

  • Dion Dawkins: 3-years, $60.2M
  • Kolton Miller: 3-years, $54.01M
  • Orlando Brown: 4-years, $64.1M
  • Spencer Brown: 4-years, $72M
  • Trent Williams: 3-years, $82M

Those numbers, combined with the $18.424M projection for the fifth year option, provide the base level for where the conversation about any extension Cross might sign starts. Now it’s a matter of waiting to see whether John Schneider remains true to past form and opts to let Cross walk, or whether he takes over as the highest paid offensive lineman in franchise history.

It should be a no brainer. But then again, decisions that felt like no brainers in the past haven’t always been made the way fans thought they should have been made.

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Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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Seattle, WA

Seattle Kraken fall to Mammoth 5-3 for 7th loss in 8 games

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Seattle Kraken fall to Mammoth 5-3 for 7th loss in 8 games


SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Dylan Guenther scored a go-ahead power-play goal in the third period and the Utah Mammoth beat the Seattle Kraken 5-3 on Friday night to snap a three-game losing streak.

Utah Mammoth 5, Seattle Kraken 3: Box score

Nick Schmaltz had a goal and two assists, and Kailer Yamamoto, JJ Peterka, and Lawson Crouse also scored for the Mammoth. Kevin Stenlund had three assists and Karel Vejmelka stopped 32 shots.

Mason Marchment had two goals and Ben Meyers also scored for the Kraken in their seventh loss in eight games. Phillipp Grubauer had 26 saves.

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After a scoreless first period, Marchment put Seattle on the board with a backhand shot at 3:35 of the second.

Schmaltz tied it at 8:09 with an unassisted goal. He attacked off a breakaway and chipped the puck over Grubauer’s shoulder from close range.

Yamamoto then gave Utah its first lead with 6:36 left in the middle period.

Seattle had several shots at an equalizer during a two-man advantage lasting nearly two minutes, but the Kraken came up empty.

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Marchment then got his second goal of the night and fourth of the season at 7:50 of the third, slapping the puck home from long distance to tie it.

Guenther gave Utah a 3-2 lead with 7:05 remaining, successfully converting a power play.

Peterka and Crouse added empty netters over the final three minutes, and Meyers scored for Seattle with 43 seconds to go for the final margin.

Up next

Kraken: Host Buffalo on Sunday.

Mammoth: At Pittsburgh on Sunday.

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Seattle Kraken dealt another tough blow on the injury front



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Brock: How rookie DL can fit in Seattle Seahawks’ defense

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Brock: How rookie DL can fit in Seattle Seahawks’ defense


The Seattle Seahawks focused heavily on their offense during the draft this past spring, using nine of their 11 selections to pick players on that side of the ball.

Just two of their picks were defenders: safety Nick Emmanwori and defensive lineman Rylie Mills.

Seattle Seahawks waive 2 players, have options to fill their roster spots

After returning from an injury suffered in the season opener that forced him to miss three games (and essentially four since he played on four snaps in Week 1), Emmanwori is making his case to be in consideration for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.

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Mills, on the other hand, has yet to play a snap while recovering from an ACL tear suffered last December during his final season at Notre Dame. But the fifth-round pick appears to be nearing his NFL debut. Mills, who was designated to return to practice from injured reserve Nov. 26, was a full participant in practice for the first time last Friday. He was ruled out of Sunday’s game against Atlanta, but practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday as Seattle prepares for a matchup with Indianapolis this Sunday.

The Seahawks have until next Wednesday to decide if they will activate Mills to the 53-man roster or place him on IR for the rest of the season. So it may be another week until he makes his debut, and it’s no guarantee that he will play this season. If he is activated to the 53-man roster, how will he fit the Seahawks’ standout defense? Former NFL quarterback Brock Huard shared his insight about the role the Notre Dame product could play during his Blue 88 segment on Seattle Sports’ Brock and Salk on Thursday.

“I do remember watching him a number of times and just, gosh, he was a good college football player,” Huard said. “He’s big now. He’s 6-5, 290 (pounds), and to be honest with you, you know where he fits a little bit more? He would fit a little bit more in a traditional, kind of old school Pittsburgh Steelers 3-4 defense. He would be that five-technique defensive end that could play that spot and be very stout.”

Mills is similar in size to star Seahawks defensive lineman Leonard Williams, who measures in at 6-5 and 310 pounds. But one key difference is Williams has more length, which is a concern Huard has about Mills.

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“The challenge and what I’m anxious to kind of see in how they utilize him eventually is he’s not real long (Mills had 32 5/8 inch arms at the draft combine)” Huard said. “He’s not like Leonard Williams with that length. He’s not necessarily like a (Quinton) Bohanna and a (Brandon) Pili at 330-plus pounds either. (He’s) 6-5, 290, fairly athletic, super smart, super savvy, but he’s a little different than all the rest of these D-linemen.

“He’s certainly not an edge player and he doesn’t have some of the size or the length of some of the interior (linemen).”

However, Huard is confident the Seahawks can figure out the best way to utilize Mills’ skills just like they have with another player on their defensive line who lacks some of the ideal measurables: 2024 first-round pick Byron Murphy II.

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“Like they’ve done with Murphy, who also is not prototypical in some of the size, they will play to his skill set,” Huard said. “(Mills’) greatest skill set, frankly, might just be his brain.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player near the top of this story. Listen to Brock and Salk weekdays from 6-10 a.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

Seattle Seahawks coverage

• What to expect if Colts start Philip Rivers at QB vs. Seattle Seahawks
• Seattle Seahawks Injury Report: OL starter may be nearing return
• Daniel Jeremiah: Seahawks rookie Grey Zabel ‘an elite guard now’
• Date and time for Seattle Seahawks’ Week 17 game at Carolina announced
• Seahawks Notebook: Coach leaves team; two players designated to return






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Seattle weather: Drier skies Friday, some rivers remain above flood stage

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Seattle weather: Drier skies Friday, some rivers remain above flood stage


High river levels continue this evening after the heaviest showers came to an end Thursday with only a few lingering showers. A Flash Flood Watch remains in effect for the Mount Vernon area due to flood risks if local levees fail, which remains possible through Friday afternoon.

Our FOX 13 Weather Team is closely watching for potential flash flooding concerns over the Skagit River.

A Flash Flood Watch is posted until late Friday: there is a possibility of dike/levee failure. (FOX 13 Seattle)

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 Landslide and localized flooding will still remain an issue into the end of the week. 

Looking Ahead

High river levels continue this evening after the heaviest showers come to an end Thursday. 

We have seen three rivers in Western Washington reach record level heights, making this a historic flooding event for the state. We still have the likelihood of seeing record heights for the Skagit River at Mount Vernon this evening into early Friday morning as it crests. Most of our area rivers will continue to decrease overnight and throughout Friday. 

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Record Crest

We have seen three rivers in Western Washington reach record level heights, making this a historic flooding event for Western Washington. 

Rainfall totals Thursday were significantly lower compared to Wednesday, which will help to lower river levels over the next few days. 

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Rain Totals

Rainfall totals Thursday were significantly lower compared to Wednesday, which will help to lower river levels over the next few days. 

Temperatures this afternoon were also significantly warmer compared to average, with highs in the mid to upper 50s.

Highs Today

Temperatures this afternoon were also significantly warmer compared to average, with highs in the mid to upper 50s.

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What’s next:

Skies will be much drier Friday as we see the atmospheric river move out of Western Washington. High pressure will slowly build back in for Friday and Saturday, aiding in the rivers receding and for the soil to dry out. 

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Cloudy Friday

Skies will be much drier Friday as we see the atmospheric river move out of Western Washington. 

Highs will remain very mild through the weekend, reaching the mid 50s. We will see dry skies and even some sunbreaks for Saturday. Our next round of showers return Sunday with scattered rain, then heavier showers and lowering snowlevels by the middle of next week. 

Seattle Extended

Highs will remain very mild through the weekend, reaching the mid 50s. 

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The Source: Information in this story came from FOX 13 Seattle Meteorologist Claire Anderson and the National Weather Service.

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