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LOOK: Charles Cross pays tribute to Kobe Bryant at 2022 NFL Draft

Chandler Vesselsby:Chandler Vessels•04/28/22•

ChandlerVessels

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Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Although he doesn’t play basketball, Mississippi State offensive tackle Charles Cross considers Kobe Bryant to be his idol. Bryant, a five-time NBA champion and former MVP with the Los Angeles Lakers, has seen his superstardom extend beyond the court, as his competitiveness has come to be admired by an entire generation.

That’s why when Cross attended the 2022 NFL Draft on Thursday, he wore a black mamba lapel in honor of the late Bryant, who passed away in a helicopter crash in 2020. With the memory of Bryant with him, Cross was ultimately taken ninth overall by the Seattle Seahawks.

Despite a lack of run blocking experience in his college system, Cross comes to the league as one of the most touted pass protectors. At 6-foot-5, 307-pounds, he entered the 2022 NFL Draft after earning All-SEC Freshman honors in 2020 and All-SEC honors in 2021. Although offensive lineman do not fill the stat sheet, he did light up the NFL combine with a 4.95-second 40-yard dash time and good work in the other drills.

A former five-star plus recruit in the class of 2019, he was the No. 22 overall player in the nation per the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average. The Laurel, Mississippi native chose to stay home as the No. 5 offensive tackle and No. 2 player in his home state after playing at Laurel High School.

Charles Cross will look to emulate the passion, work ethic and spirit of Kobe Bryant in his rookie season and beyond with the Seahawks. Seattle is going through a bit of a transition period after trading quarterback Russell Wilson this offseason, and doesn’t look like much of a contender in the NFC West against the likes of the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals.

The Seahawks finished with their first losing record since 2011 this past season, but Cross at least gives them a solid foundation upon which to build their future.