#STATEtoSundays: Week 18 Update
January 06, 2026 | Football
Former first-round draft pick Charles Cross agreed to a four-year, $104.4 million contract extension with Seattle on Sunday.
Cross will receive $40.5 million next season with his new deal averaging $26.1 million per year. It is the highest salary ever awarded to a non-quarterback in Seahawks history.
The former Mississippi State standout started 14 games at left tackle for Seattle this season and earned the highest pass blocking grade (76.9) by a Seahawks offensive lineman, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Cross and the Seahawks clinched a bye in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. Other Bulldogs on playoff bound teams include Logan Cooke (Jaguars), Denico Autry (Texans), Emmanuel Forbes (Rams), Jaden Crumedy (Panthers), Elgton Jenkins (Packers) and Montez Sweat (Bears).
Chris Jones closed out the final week of the regular season in a big way with a pair of sacks for Kansas City. Jones finished his season with 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks and now has 87 ½ sacks during his star-studded career.
Jones, a seven-time Pro Bowler, holds the Chiefs' top pressure grade this year at 90.7, which ranks second among interior defenders in the NFL.
The No. 1 pressure grade at that position is held by another MSU standout, Jeffery Simmons. Simmons posted a 91.4 pressure grade this season and topped Tennessee with an 88.3 overall defensive grade, which ranks third in the league at his position.
Simmons wrapped up his season with a sack in Week 18 and his 11 sacks this season are the most ever by a Titans defensive tackle. The Macon native now has 66 tackles for loss and 42 ½ sacks over his illustrious career.
Sweat combined on a half-sack in his regular season finale to give him an even 10 on the year, the second-most sack total of his career. The former Pro Bowler posted Chicago's third-highest tackling (74.0) and defensive (75.5) grades during Week 18 and holds the No. 3 pressure grade on the Bears this year at 71.3.
Several other Bulldogs topped their respective teams in categories for the 2025 season. Dak Prescott had the highest overall offensive grade for Dallas at 86.9 and his 4,552 passing yards ranked third in the NFL. Autry (91.1) and J.T. Gray (80.6) earned the highest special teams grades for Houston and Tampa Bay, respectively, with Autry's mark ranking fifth overall in the league.
Cornerback Decamerion Richardson had the highest coverage grade (77.5) and second-best defensive grade (77.0) for Las Vegas this year. Willie Gay Jr. finished with the No. 2 tackling grade on Miami's defense at 85.1, which ranked fifth among all NFL linebackers.
DENICO AUTRY | DE | HOUSTON TEXANS | AT MSU: 2012-13
Last Week: Autry saw action on 10 defensive reps and six special teams plays in a 38-30 win over the Colts.
Season: eight tackles (five solo, three assists), three tackles for loss, 3 1/2 sacks, four quarterback hurries, one pass defense, one forced fumble, two blocked field goals
MARCUS BANKS | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | AT MSU: 2022-23
Last Week: Banks was on the practice squad for a 16-14 win over the Panthers.
Season: three games played
STONE BLANTON | LB | FREE AGENT | AT MSU: 2024
Last Week: Blanton was released from the 49ers practice squad on Nov. 26.
Season: N/A
LOGAN COOKE | P | JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Cooke punted three times for 138 yards (46.0 avg.) with a long of 60 yards in a 41-7 win over the Titans.
Season: Punting – 60 punts for 2,878 yards (48.0 avg.), long 68 Misc. – one solo tackle
CHARLES CROSS | OT | SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Cross was inactive for a 13-3 win at the 49ers.
Season: 14 games played, 14 starts
JADEN CRUMEDY | DT | CAROLINA PANTEHRS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Crumedy was on the practice squad for a 16-14 loss at the Buccaneers.
Season: two assisted tackles
MARTIN EMERSON | CB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2019-21
Last Week: Emerson was on injured reserve for a 20-18 win at the Bengals.
Season: Out for the season (torn Achilles)
EMMANUEL FORBES | CB | LOS ANGELES RAMS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Forbes started and made two solo tackles and one pass defense in a 37-20 win over the Cardinals.
Season: 45 tackles (32 solo, 13 assists), 18 pass defenses, one forced fumble, three interceptions
WILLIE GAY JR. | LB | MIAMI DOLPHINS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Gay made two tackles (one solo, one assist) in a 38-10 loss at the Patriots.
Season: 20 tackles (10 solo, 10 assists), three tackles for loss, two sacks, two quarterback hurries, two pass defenses
J.T. GRAY | S | TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | AT MSU: 2014-17
Last Week: Gray made two solo tackles on special teams in a 16-14 win over the Panthers.
Season: one assisted tackle
ELGTON JENKINS | G/C | GREEN BAY PACKERS | AT MSU: 2014-18
Last Week: Jenkins was on injured reserve (fractured lower left leg) for a 16-3 loss at the Vikings.
Season: nine games played, nine starts
CHRIS JONES | DE | KANSAS CITY CHIEFS | AT MSU: 2013-15
Last Week: Jones started and made three tackles (two solo, one assist), two tackles for loss, two sacks and two quarterback hurries in a 14-12 loss at the Raiders.
Season: 29 tackles (15 solo, 14 assists), 12 tackles for loss, 24 quarterback hurries, seven sacks, two pass defenses
TYRE PHILLIPS | OG | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2017-19
Last Week: Phillips was on the practice squad for a 20-18 loss at the Bengals.
Season: N/A
DAK PRESCOTT | QB | DALLAS COWBOYS | AT MSU: 2011-15
Last Week: Prescott started and completed 7 of 11 passes for 70 yards. He also rushed twice for minus-1 yard in a 34-17 loss at the Giants.
Season: Passing - 404 of 600, 4,552 yards, 30 touchdowns, 10 interceptions Rushing – 53 carries, 177 yards, two touchdowns Misc. – two solo tackles, three fumble recoveries
DECAMERION RICHARDSON | CB | LAS VEGAS RAIDERS | AT MSU: 2020-23
Last Week: Richardson made one solo tackle in a 14-12 win over the Chiefs.
Season: 11 tackles (nine solo, two assists)
JEFFERY SIMMONS | DT | TENNESSEE TITANS | AT MSU: 2016-18
Last Week: Simmons started and made two tackles (one solo, one assist), one tackle for loss, one sack and one quarterback hurry in a 41-7 loss at the Jaguars.
Season: Defense - 67 tackles (39 solo, 28 assists), 18 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 21 quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, three pass defenses, one safety Receiving – one catch, 1 yard, one touchdown
DARIUS SLAY | CB | BUFFALO BILLS | AT MSU: 2011-12
Last Week: Slay was on the reserve/did not report list for a 35-8 win over the Jets.
Season: 36 tackles (28 solo, eight assists), three pass defenses, one fumble recovery, one tackle for loss
PRESTON SMITH | DE | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | AT MSU: 2011-14
Last Week: Smith made one assisted tackle in a 24-17 win at the Eagles.
Season: 24 tackles (eight solo, 16 assists), six quarterback hurries, two tackles for loss, one pass defense, 0.5 sack
MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | CHICAGO BEARS | AT MSU: 2017-18
Last Week: Sweat started and made four tackles (two solo, two assists), a half-sack, one quarterback hurry and one pass defense in a 19-16 loss to the Lions.
Season: 52 tackles (37 solo, 15 assists), 13 tackles for loss, seven pass defenses, 17 quarterback hurries, 10 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery
NATHANIEL WATSON | LB | CLEVELAND BROWNS | AT MSU: 2018-23
Last Week: Watson was on injured reserve for a 20-18 win at the Bengals.
Season: Out for the season (bicep)
TYRUS WHEAT | DE | DETROIT LIONS | AT MSU: 2020-22
Last Week: Wheat made one solo tackle on special teams in a 19-16 win at the Bears.
Season: 14 tackles (six solo, eight assists), one tackle for loss, 1 ½ sacks, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, one pass defense
![Jacksonville Jaguars punter Logan Cooke (9) punts during the second quarter of an NFL football matchup at EverBank Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. The Jaguars defeated the Jets 48-20. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]](https://images.sidearmdev.com/resize?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdxbhsrqyrr690.cloudfront.net%2Fsidearm.nextgen.sites%2Fmsstate.sidearmsports.com%2Fimages%2F2026%2F1%2F1%2FUSATSI_27828199.jpg&height=340&type=webp)
