League source: Seahawks about to sign LT Charles Cross on rich, 4-year extension
The Seahawks are about to get their bookend blocker back — happier than he’s ever been.
A league source told The News Tribune Sunday to expect the team to soon announce it has an agreement with left tackle Charles Cross on a new, four-year contract extension that would tie their backside quarterback protector to the Seahawks through 2029. He turned 25 years old in late November.
An announcement on Cross’ new contract could come Monday.
The deal for Seattle’s first-round draft choice (ninth overall) from 2022 to remain is believed to include $75 million guaranteed. It’s the richest deal the Seahawks have ever given to anyone but a quarterback.
Ian Rapoport of the league-owned NFL Network reported the contract could be worth up to $104.4 million.
The maximum annual average of $26.1 million places Cross as the league’s fourth-highest paid left tackle by annual contract value. Rashawn Slater averages $28.5 million on the deal he signed before this season to remain the Los Angeles Chargers. Tristan Wirfs of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers averages $28.12 million per season. San Francisco pays Trent Williams an average of $27.55 million per year.
Cross has missed the last three games with a hamstring injury he got on Jason Myers’ final-play field goal that sent Seattle past Indianapolis Dec. 14.
Coach Mike Macdonald said last week and again following the Seahawks’ win Saturday night at the 49ers that clinched the NFC West title and first-round playoff bye for Seattle the team expects Cross to play in the Seahawks’ first postseason game. That will be the weekend of Jan. 17-18 in the divisional round at Lumen Field.
Cross has started 62 regular-season games as a four-year starter since Seattle drafted him out of Mississippi State. The Seahawks decided last spring to use their fifth-year contract option on him for 2026. That would have guaranteed him a contract for one year at over $17 million for next season.
The Seahawks and general manager John Schneider enacted the option to in effect buy more time to strike this longer-term deal with Cross, at a more team-friendly salary-cap charge than that $17 million-plus would have been for next year.
Now, they’ve done that.
The Seahawks have other expiring contracts with starting players to decide on for 2026 and beyond. They include lead running back Kenneth Walker, coming off a 97-yard rushing game at San Francisco this weekend, one-time Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen, right tackle Abe Lucas and safety Coby Bryant.
This story was originally published January 4, 2026 at 7:33 PM.
