That‘s good analysis on JJ, it’s entirely possible I’ve bought into the hype. Still curious if something off field was at play.
In regards to Cross, you’re supporting my argument a bit…Cross was the best renaming OT, ie they were picking the position, not the player. Hyperbole driven by PTSD, but shades of Collier there.
Sorry but I don’t think you can put Collier and Cross in the same conversation.
Seahawks could have gone a number a different ways at the point of their selection and whose to say the rumors to trade up wasn’t for them to get Cross but didn’t after the draft fell their way after Neal was selected.
Seahawks once upon time traded up for a similarly player that was considered a little raw around the edges in terms of being a complete package, whose athletic testing definitely did not match his film but this player possessed a lot of pass-blocking acumen that made him one of the top prospects at his position. Traits/skills/ability that just hard to coach or teach even with elite athletic profiles especially in this current day and age. That player , of course, was Walter Jones.
Not saying Cross is going to be as successful as Walter Jones. Who knows at this point but it would not surprise me if Jones himself much like he did with George Fant takes Cross under his wing as a mentor/advisor type. Also, let’s not forget Seahawks are paying Steve Hutchison as a consultant and that Damien Lewis is a qualified dominant road grader that will be in Cross’s back pocket moving forward. Not to mention if Duane Brown comes back if they elect to start Cross at RT. Thats a pretty great situation to be coming into if you asked me.
Not worried about Cross one bit, this team definitely got better today and they didn’t do anything dramatic and definitely did not reach or pass on anybody that was big time. I think they got the guy they wanted.