Raiders' blockbuster trade for Geno Smith opens up the path for rival Chiefs to secure their left tackle of the future
The Las Vegas Raiders' blockbuster deal to acquire Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith might have just helped the Kansas City Chiefs find their left tackle of the future. All signs point toward a major overhaul in Seattle this offseason. They've reversed course on Smith, said goodbye to veteran WR Tyler Lockett, and are entertaining trade inquiries on star WR […]
The Las Vegas Raiders' blockbuster deal to acquire Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith might have just helped the Kansas City Chiefs find their left tackle of the future.
All signs point toward a major overhaul in Seattle this offseason. They've reversed course on Smith, said goodbye to veteran WR Tyler Lockett, and are entertaining trade inquiries on star WR DK Metcalf. It all begs the question, who else could be available in trade?
The Chiefs need to find a long-term solution for the left tackle position. It's not a secret, but it's also apparent that they lack many viable options via free agency. It just so happens that Seahawks LT Charles Cross is entering the final year of his rookie deal. But could he possibly be available? At the right price, anyone is available in the NFL.
It would make a lot of sense for Seattle to shop Cross. He'll command a top-of-market contract extension in 2026, and your organization no longer has a franchise quarterback. He might also simply not want to play for a team without one.
Why Seahawks LT Charles Cross is a fit for the Chiefs
After his first two seasons in the NFL, Cross didn't quite fit the billing of a former Top-10 pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He wasn't bad by any means, but he didn't play up to the expectation of his draft slot. During the 2024 NFL season, he took a step forward both as a pass protector and a run blocker.
The 24-year-old allowed 47 pressures, six of which were sacks, and was called for eight penalties during the 2024 NFL regular season. His worst game came against Detroit in Week 4, where he surrendered 10 pressures, more than double the pressures allowed in any other single game that season.
Those numbers might not seem so elite, but they're already a vast improvement over what Kansas City could field in 2024. Excluding Joe Thuney's regular-season starts (CLE, HOU, PIT), the trio of Kingsley Suamataia, Wanya Morris, and D.J. Humphries allowed a combined 50 pressures and nine sacks on QB Patrick Mahomes from the left tackle position.
The cost for a player like Cross would admittedly be high, but he's as sure of a thing as you could hope for if you're the Chiefs. An ascending young player with proven NFL success who is ripe for a long-term contract extension? Yeah, that'll play. The big question is whether or not Brett Veach and Clark Hunt are willing to pony up what it'll take to make a deal.
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