Geno Smith, the breakout success of the 2022 season, owes a portion of his team-friendly contract extension to one position group — the offensive line. 

Smith, who enjoyed a clean pocket in the first half of the season, burst onto the NFL field in 2022. He was the unique case of a 32-year-old quarterback whose best season came —  not early in his career — but later. 

However, CBS Sports theorized that it wasn't all Smith, it was also the Seahawks' offensive line. So it is no surprise that CBS Sports.com named Cross as the one player Seattle can't afford to lose next season.

"It's all about giving the QB a clean pocket," CBS Sports writes. "Geno Smith's turnover tendencies started to flare up down the stretch in his breakout 2022. With Jaxon Smith-Njigba joining the WR corps, Cross is an overlooked key to them staying in the mix."

For context, Cross, last season, played in a staggering 1,091 snaps. He was the definition of an iron man. And in many ways, his play will be the key to Smith picking up where he left off in 2022. 

No pressure. 

Already, much has been made over the Seahawks adding Smith-Njigba, who will play as a slot receiver in a wide receiver group that already has household names like D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. 

The good news for Smith is that Smith-Njigba already looks like a veteran throughout the early portion of the NFL offseason. 

“I mean, he’s come in and he’s treated it like he’s a vet already,” Metcalf said in a press conference during a mandatory minicamp. “He knows how to run routes. He knows his body. He knows how to catch. So, it’s really just teaching him the playbook — and he’s already ahead of the curve of learning the technique that [receivers coach] Sanjay [Lal is] teaching… So, he’s just fitting right in with the drills and with the plays that we’re calling.”

Lockett also said something similar regarding what Smith-Njigba can be for Seattle. 

“I think he’s going to be phenomenal, man," Lockett said. “It’s always hard just being able to get adjusted when you first come in. But the way he runs routes, the way he’s understanding the way that receivers coach Sanjay [Lal] coaches, the sky’s going to be the limit. I think he’s going to be really good at all the things that the Seahawks — that we want him to be able to do. I’m excited to be able to go out there and work with him. Even though you’re a vet, you can still learn from the young guys too. So it’s always being able to teach each other stuff and iron sharpening iron and just helping each other be better to win.”

But none of that matters if the offensive line doesn't play at a high level. And clearly, that will start with Cross and end with Smith making the most of another opportunity. 

Feature image via Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports.