Grip on Sports: The Seahawks’ future may just hang in the balance tonight

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The NFL holds its draft starting at 5 p.m. (PDT) tonight. Did you know there are odds about who will be the first pick, first running back, first everything. Of course you did. Read on.

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• It’s 6-to-1 Patriots’ backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will be traded today, according to R.J. Bell of Pregame.com. The over/under on the total number of quarterbacks drafted in tonight’s opening round is 3.5. And Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett is the overwhelming favorite to be the first pick.

Heck, there are probably odds somewhere on which ESPN staffer will be cut loose in the middle of the first round.

But I can’t find any odds the Hawks will trade down at least once sometime in the next few days. Maybe that’s because it’s probably a sure thing. Heck, they only have seven picks. That can’t be enough for general manager John Schneider.

Since Schneider started running Seattle’s draft in 2010, the fewest number of picks the franchise has had is eight in 2015. Three times they have picked at least 10 players.

And this draft seems to have as much importance as any of the eight in Schneider’s tenure.

The Hawks may not be old, but they are getting there.

What do you think the odds are Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas will start all 16 games together this season? Twenty-five-to-1? Worse? Better?

Sherman is 29. Thomas may only be 27, but he is coming off a broken leg. And Chancellor, also 29, has missed time for a variety of reasons the past couple seasons.

And the rest of the defense isn’t youthful.

When you rely on speed as much as the Hawks do, losing a half-a-step as you age is OK. Maybe even a whole one. But more than that and the scheme falls apart.

So the reloading has to begin. Mainly because, with all we said above, this Hawks team can still contend for a Super Bowl. It is still among the best in the NFC. But the line between great, good and mediocre in the NFL is as thin as the stripes on Spokane’s streets. As in almost non-existent.

Unless you play in Foxboro, you can be really good one year and really mediocre the next. Ask the Carolina Panthers. Or the 49ers. The Hawks don’t want that. They want to be more like the Patriots than the Broncos. They want to compete every year.

To do that, the roster needs to constantly evolve, even on the top end. The Legion of Boom – and other areas – has had a good run. But even they are not immune to the ravages of time. Guys like Chancellor and Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright might have two or three more good years left. Or it might just be two or three good games.

The reservoir needs to be refilled. And it starts tonight.

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WSU: The news from the Pac-12 is slowing down, and not just because ESPN cut most of its Pac-12 blog staffers. It’s also just the time of year. Oregon is looking for basketball players, as may be Colorado. … A former Washington receiver hopes the Hawks draft him. … The Ducks are still figuring out the quarterback spot. … Finally. … It looks as if Drew Rasmussen will throw this weekend.

Gonzaga: Saint Mary’s is looking for a new athletic director.

EWU: The first voice you will hear here is that of Cooper Kupp. He penned this first-person piece for us on his tenure in Cheney and what’s ahead. … Jim Allen delves into the special teams in his final spring preview story. … Women’s basketball coach Wendy Schuler received an extension yesterday.

Idaho: Former WSU punter Zach Charme is moving across the border.

Preps: It’s Thursday, so we have nearly a handful of prep stories to pass along, including Steve Christilaw’s feature on Ferris’ three-sport athlete, Max Thompson. Steve also introduces the new U-Hi track coach and catches up with East Valley’s Rodrick Fisher in this column. … Whitney Ogden writes about the bond among Rogers’ softball team.

Mariners: Dave Nichols has your Mariners Log after last night’s 8-0 win at Detroit. We have the links at the bottom. James Paxton has been filthy at times this season.

Seahawks: You be Schneider. Your first-round spot comes up. Your top corner is available, whoever that is. So is your top tackle. Which do you take? If I were in his shoes, I would trade the pick for a high second and fifth. … We reported on the Marshawn Lynch trade yesterday morning, but we can sum it up for you today. And I do think the answer to this question is yes.

Sounders: Portland wants to expand and improve its stadium.

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• Going to be out tonight, so I won’t see the NFL draft. But that’s OK. I find it’s more fun to watch in small doses. But that’s just me. I’m sure a lot of you are wall-to-wall viewers. Until later …