“You don’t build a fortress with paper walls. You build it with anchors,” —Hall of Famer Walter Jones once mused about the art of offensive line play. And in Sam Darnold’s Seattle, that anchor just got a whole lot heavier. The Seahawks are making moves that scream “future-proofing,” louder than a Geno Smith audible at the Lumen Field line of scrimmage.

When you hear a Seattle offensive lineman described as a “foundation piece,” it’s easy to roll your eyes. But sometimes? It’s the real deal. Back in 2022, Charles Cross walked across the draft stage wearing a smile big enough to power all of Puget Sound. Critics called him a reach. Skeptics pointed to his Air Raid background at Mississippi State and wondered if he’d ever learn to maul the way an NFL tackle should. Three years and nearly 3,000 snaps later, Cross didn’t just quiet the doubters—he earned something no Seahawks draft pick before him ever had: a fifth-year option pickup.

That’s right. Cross, the 24-year-old left tackle who’s been more reliable than a rainy Tuesday in Seattle, just became the first homegrown Seahawks draft pick ever to have his fifth-year option picked up. Since 2011, Seattle’s dodged this commitment like Pete Carroll avoids khaki stains. But Cross? He’s the unicorn. The $17.56M tag for 2026 isn’t just a payday, it’s a declaration that the Seahawks are done papering over cracks. They’re building fortresses now.

From Draft Day steal to $17.5M reality, the Cross effect

“He’s started 48 of 51 games, ranked 16th in pass block win rate last year, and played 99.7% of snaps in 2024,” per Brady Henderson. Translation: Cross isn’t just holding the fort, he’s the fort. And with Klutch Sports now repping him (shoutout to Nicole Lynn and Kelton Crenshaw), negotiations for an extension will be smoother than Russell Wilson’s play-action fake. But here’s the kicker: Cross hired an agent after playing DIY for years. Smart move. As Succession’s Logan Roy would growl, ‘You don’t go to war with one arm tied behind your goddamn back.’

Let’s rewind. In 2022, Seattle took Cross 9th overall, and critics clucked louder than a coop at dawn. Fast-forward: 48 starts, a PFF grade that’s climbed faster than a TikTok trend (81.3 pass-blocking in 2024), and a durability stat that’s borderline robotic. Cross wasn’t just protecting Geno’s blindside—he’s curating it. Remember his 2024 opener against Denver? He turned Bradley Chubb and Randy Gregory into background actors in a Geno Smith Highlight Reel.

Now he’ll be bringing that protection on renewed motivation to Sam Darnold, who probably still has nightmares of all the sacks he took in last season’s wild-card game. But here’s the poetry: Cross isn’t just a lineman. He’s a culture linchpin. The Seahawks haven’t picked up a fifth-year option on their own draftees since… ever. Not Bruce Irvin, not Rashaad Penny—nada. Cross broke the curse. It’s like finally getting a sequel to Firefly—unexpected, glorious, and long overdue.

“In the NFL, you either evolve or evaporate,” That’s not just a Mike Macdonald mantra—it’s Seattle’s offseason playbook. While Cross secures the O-line, the Hawks are playing Moneyball on defense, snagging two of NFL.com’s top-5 undrafted edge rushers: Jared Ivey (Ole Miss) and Connor O’Toole (Utah). Let’s break it down.

UDFA magic: Seattle’s secret sauce

If the NFL Draft is a symphony, UDFA signings are the jazz riff—improvised, spicy, and occasionally genius. Ivey and O’Toole? They’re the sax solo in Seattle’s defensive anthem. Ivey’s got the wingspan of a pterodactyl and a motor that doesn’t quit. O’Toole? Dude went from catching passes to crushing QBs, adding 40 pounds of ‘nah, bruh’ to his frame. Together, they’re the Barbenheimer of edge rushers—explosive, unpredictable, and oddly complementary.

Ivey’s a 6’6”, 275-pound Swiss Army knife who racked up 7 sacks and 11 TFLs in 2024. O’Toole? Former wideout turned DE, packing a 6’4” frame and a résumé that screams glow-up. These aren’t just camp bodies, they’re lottery tickets with scratch-off potential. With an aging Seattle edge rotation (looking at you, DeMarcus Lawrence) and Uchenna Nwosu’s injury history, Ivey and O’Toole could be the fresh legs Macdonald’s scheme craves.

But here’s the kicker: Seattle’s UDFA game is low-key legendary. Remember Doug Baldwin? Or the undrafted rookie who outplayed a first-rounder? Exactly. Ivey and O’Toole aren’t just fighting for a roster spot, they’re auditioning for a legacy. As Ted Lasso once said, “Taking on a challenge is a lot like riding a horse. If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re probably doing it wrong.”

Seattle’s offseason isn’t about flashy headlines—it’s about laying bricks. Locking down Cross ensures the offense’s spine stays intact. Gambling on Ivey and O’Toole? That’s the front office whispering, “Winter is coming,” and stocking up on firewood. In a league where windows slam shut faster than a DK Metcalf 40-time, the Seahawks are smashing theirs wide open.

So here’s to Charles Cross, the $17.5M man who turned potential into proof. And to Ivey and O’Toole—the rookies with everything to prove. In Seattle, the future isn’t just bright, it’s blitzing.