Steelers Now NFL Notebook, Jan 19

Alan Saunders |

Updated: May 25, 2022

The Steelers Notebook is your go-to source for all the latest news and notes surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers and NFL.

? 6:15 p.m: The latest mock draft from CBS Sports has the Steelers trading up in the first round to take a quarterback.

The mock 2021 NFL Draft posted on Tuesday by Ryan Wilson has the Steelers trading up with the Dallas Cowboys to get from the No. 24 pick in the first round to the No. 10 pick in order to select North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance.

Lance (6-foot-4, 226 pounds) came out for the draft after his sophomore season, and most of that was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, with the Bison playing just one game. In his NDSU career, Lance played in 19 games, throwing for 2,947 yards, 30 touchdowns and just one interception.

Wilson has the Cowboys taking South Carolina cornerback Jaycee Horn at No. 24.

? 3:45 p.m:

Hall of Fame Selector Bill Polian Makes Case for Former Steelers Scout Bill Nunn

? 2:15 p.m: Quarterback Devlin “Duck” Hodges said farewell to Pittsburgh via social media on Tuesday, indicating that the former Steelers starter will not return to the team for 2021. The Steelers allowed Hodges’ contract to expire on Monday.

“Thankful for the opportunity and the ability to live out my dream,” Hodges wrote. “Nothing but love! QUACK!”

Filling after injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph in 2019, Hodges made an astonishing climb from rookie camp invitee to NFL starting quarterback. Hodges threw for 1,063 yards while completing 62.5% of his passes. He threw for five touchdowns and eight interceptions for a 71.4 quarterback rating. The Steelers went 3-3 in games Hodges started.

? 1:40 p.m: Country musician Eric Chuch and singer-songwriter Jazmine Sullivan will sing the national anthem before Super Bowl LV in Tampa Bay, the NFL announced on Tuesday.

Church is a 10-time Grammy nominee, who had a No. 1 song in 2019 with “Some of it.” Sullivan has been nominated for a Grammy eight times and her most recent album, “Heaux Tales” debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 on Jan. 8.

Additionally, R&B singer H.E.R. will sing America the Beautiful.

The pregame show will be broadcast live before Super Bowl LV on CBS.