The first draft pick from the Russell Wilson trade has just become the first Seahawks draft pick to have his fifth-year option picked up.
Just days before the deadline, the Seahawks have exercised starting left tackle Charles Cross’ fifth-year option, which is valued at a fully guaranteed $17,560,000. NFL insider Ian Rapoport had the news on Monday.
Since the fifth-year option was introduced for first-round picks back in 2011, this is the first time the Seahawks have picked up a fifth-year option for any of their draftees. They did exercise Noah Fant’s option in 2022, but obviously he was drafted by the Denver Broncos. None of James Carpenter, Bruce Irvin, Germain Ifedi, Rashaad Penny, L.J. Collier, or Jordan Brooks had their options exercise and none of them stayed beyond their respective rookie deals.
Even if you widened the scope beyond fifth-year options for first-round picks, the Seahawks under John Schneider have seldom paid their offensive line draftees outside of their first contracts. Of Schneider’s OL picks, only Justin Britt has ever received a contract extension while on his rookie deal.
The Seattle Seahawks invested in the offensive line early during this year’s NFL Draft with the selection of Grey Zabel, and now they’re keeping Charles Cross under contract through 2026. Nothing is stopping them from still giving him an extension; this just means he’s not going to be an impending free agent at the end of this season.
One way to invest in the offensive line? Keep your good players. These past few days feel refreshingly different on that front.
