Charles Cross became a star at Mississippi State the past 2 years, even though he didn’t have to do much run blocking in Mike Leach’s Air Raid system.

Still, the elite physical traits and strong pass protection skills Cross displayed were enough to get him drafted in the top 10 in the 2022 NFL Draft, going to the Seattle Seahawks with the No. 9 overall pick.

Now, he’s signed his rookie contract. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Cross’s deal is for 4 years and fully guarantees $21.384 million. His signing bonus is $12.73 million and the team has a fifth-year option:

Cross didn’t hire an agent to help negotiate his contract, so he will pocket more of that money than most rookies.

Now, we’ll see if he can continue his outstanding play in Seattle. After all, the second contract is where the real money is to be had.