The Seattle Seahawks only have one player in the top 10 at their position heading into the 2024 season. This is according to an ESPN poll of coaches, executives and scouts around the league. Even star wide receiver DK Metcalf was unable to crack the top 10 at his position. In the end, second-year cornerback Devon Witherspoon was the only one to make the cut and one could argue he should have been ranked higher.
Seattle did get two honorable mentions in ESPN’s rankings, though. As expected, 49ers left tackle Trent Williams earned the top spot in their top-10 offensive tackle rankings. Former No. 9 overall draft pick and Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross did get at least a footnote at the very bottom of their list. Here’s what one anonymous AFC executive had to say about his game:
“Cross is an ascending, athletic guy who excels in pass pro.”
Nice words, but watching Cross one gets the feeling that any hype he’s getting at this point is due to his status as a former top-10 overall pick, which tends to lend a rosy hue to any analysis of a player’s game. Truth is Cross did show potential as a rookie but virtually no improvement in his second season. He’ll have to take a significant leap this year if Seattle is going to pick up his fifth-year option. The good news there’s at least one observer who claims he’s seen Cross showing some real improvement this offseason under new offensive line coach Scott Huff.
The other Seahawk who earned an honorable mention is running back Ken Walker. Here’s ESPN’s blurb on him in their running back rankings.
“Walker had an impressive two-year start to his career with 1,955 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. “Good vision, quickness and acceleration,” an AFC executive said. “Can make people miss in the hole.”
In this case the praise is well-earned. While Walker could stand to learn some patience and show more willingness to simply follow his blockers, there’s no denying that he’s one of the most explosive and dynamic rushers in the sport today. Every time Walker touches the ball he has a chance to take it to the house and that’s a quality that’s extremely rare, even with all the amazing athletes at the position.
If Walker can learn some discipline from new head coach Mike Macdonald he may end up in the top five of these rankings next year at this time.
Author(s)
Tim Weaver has been covering the NFL since the 2013 season for a number of different outlets, including Fansided and USA Today SMG. His work began with the Seahawks and has included covering the Eagles, Bears, Panthers, Steelers and Falcons.
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