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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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Southbound I-5 closing overnight this weekend in Fife, WA for new sign

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Southbound I-5 closing overnight this weekend in Fife, WA for new sign


A portion of southbound I-5 will be closed overnight in Fife Friday and Saturday night, according to WSDOT.

The Washington State Department of Transportation says the purpose of the closure is to install a new electronic sign and will need two nights to do it.

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Crews will close southbound I-5 from 54th Avenue to Port of Tacoma Road starting at 11 p.m. Friday night until 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Closures will resume Saturday night starting at 11 p.m. as well, and lanes will reopen Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m.

WSDOT says the closure will include the 54th Avenue ramps to southbound I-5.

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Detours for weekend I-5 closure in Fife, WA

A portion of southbound I-5 will be closed overnight in Fife Friday and Saturday night, according to WSDOT. The Washington State Department of Transportation says the purpose of the closure is to install a new electronic sign and will need two nights to do it. Crews will close southbound I-5 from 54th Avenue to Port of Tacoma Road starting at 11 p.m. Friday night until 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning. Closures will resume Saturday night starting at 11 p.m. as well and lanes will reopen Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m. WSDOT says the closure will include the 54th Avenue ramps to southbound I-5.

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The Source: Information in this story comes from the Washington State Department of Transportation.

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Is it time for Seattle Mariners’ Raley to face more lefties?

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Is it time for Seattle Mariners’ Raley to face more lefties?


Seattle Mariners outfielder Luke Raley entered this season as one of the team’s biggest bounce-back candidates. So far, he’s on his way to quite the rebound year.

Seattle Mariners’ slow start has featured some bad luck

The 31-year-old Raley has been one of the best Mariners hitters early on, as he was during his first year with the team in 2024. In his first 18 games, Raley is batting .328 (20 for 61) with a 1.002 OPS, four homers, four doubles and one triple.

Raley’s strong early performance featured a candidate for his best game at the plate as a big leaguer on Wednesday against the Padres. He turned in his first career four-hit game, which included a homer and a double. It was the third time in a four-game span Raley had at least three hits.

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Just about all of the damage Raley has done has come against right-handed pitching since he’s used as the left-handed side of a platoon in right field. So far this season, he has just two at-bats against lefties.

During Thursday’s edition of Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, co-host Bob Stelton made the case that the Mainers should ride the hot hand and give Raley more opportunities in left-on-left matchups.

“When somebody’s hot – you got very few hitters in this lineup that are hot, Donovan is another guy – I don’t care if there’s a lefty on the hill. Let Luke hit. Let Donovan hit. Let whoever’s hot (hit),” Stelton said. “… This guy is seeing the ball really well right now, let him keep going.”

What the right-handed options to replace Raley have done thus far is another reason Stelton would like to see the outfielder get more same-handed matchup opportunities. Veteran Rob Refsnyder, who is currently on paternity leave, has yet to get a hit in his first 19 plate appearances. And outfielder Victor Robles is on the injured list, leaving Connor Joe as the other right-handed option in right field. Joe has only five at-bat this season, but he hit just .221 in 157 combined games over the 2024 and 2025 seasons.

The issue of Raley hitting against lefties came up Thursday night when he was pinch hit for by Joe with the bases loaded and out in the sixth inning down 4-2 against Padres left-hander Adrian Morejon. Joe ended up striking out on three pitches.

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However, Raley’s track record against left-handers hasn’t been good. He has a career .182 average and .533 OPS against southpaws in 194 plate appearances.

“It’s comfort for a lot of these guys… Maybe it’s just a matter of seeing lefties enough,” Stelton said. “… You’re going to get better by getting used to it and facing those guys… I would think if they’re feeling good at the time, if they’re on a roll, then show them, you know what, I’ve got that much confidence in you. They’re running the lefty out there today and you’re in the lineup, so get ready.”

Hear the full conversation at this link or in the audio player below. Listen to Wyman and Bob weekdays or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app. 

More on the Seattle Mariners

• It may be time for Seattle Mariners’ Cal Raleigh to make some tradeoffs
• Trevor May: Mariners’ Brendan Donovan ‘has been as advertised’
• Changes helping Seattle Mariners’ Luke Raley look like his old self
• Former Seattle Mariners clubhouse favorite continuing career in Mexico
• How will Bryce Miller’s return impact Seattle Mariners rotation?

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Seattle SWAT arrests man accused of waving handgun at passerby in Roosevelt neighborhood

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Seattle SWAT arrests man accused of waving handgun at passerby in Roosevelt neighborhood


Seattle police arrested a 37-year-old man Wednesday evening after investigators say he threatened people with what appeared to be a handgun in the Roosevelt neighborhood.

At about 7:18 p.m., officers responded to a report of a man standing in the street and waving a handgun at passersby in the 7800 block of Lake City Way Northeast.

Police said officers arrived and found a black BMW stopped in the street that was reported stolen, with a man seated in the passenger seat holding a handgun.

The officers tried to contact him, but he appeared to be in a mental crisis or under the influence of an unknown substance, continued yelling, and did not comply with commands.

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Police then called the Hostage Negotiation Team and SWAT, and SWAT moved in with an armored vehicle and took the man into custody without further incident.

The vehicle was towed to the North Precinct. Police said officers later served a search warrant and recovered a realistic black BB gun.

The man was transported to King County Jail and booked for investigation of felony harassment, possession of a stolen vehicle, and a felony warrant.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Seattle Police Department’s Violent Crimes Tip Line at (206) 233-5000.



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