Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross has been selected by the Seattle Seahawks with the ninth pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. The dream of playing professional football has officially become a reality for Cross and his family.

Standing at 6-feet 5 inches and 310 pounds, Cross has the size to be an excellent bodyguard in the NFL. The Mississippi State product redshirted as a freshman, flashed in his first season as a starter in 2020, then took off this past year.

Via Pro Football Focus, Cross allowed a measly 16 pressures in 719 pass-blocking snaps in 2021. The 21-year-old was also at his best against some really tough competition, as he didn't allow a single pressure in 66 snaps against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Such performances earned him one of the highest pass-block win rate marks of any offensive tackle drafted since 2015.

It's not surprising then, that Cross was widely regarded as the best pass-blocking prospect in the NFL Draft. The Bulldogs star possesses strong balance and is surprisingly nimble for such a large human being. He also looks to finish off any defenders who are in his path, whether it be on a pass or run play.

Cross should have no trouble making an immediate impact for the Seahawks in the NFL. Seattle hasn't had the best offensive line in the league by any means. This is a great selection for this franchise, as the trenches receive some much-needed help. If Seattle can continue building around the quarterback position, they'll be in a much better situation down the road. Congratulations are in order.