Steelers Draft Oklahoma CB Tre Norwood in 7th Rd of 2021 NFL Draft

The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Oklahoma cornerback Tre Norwood with pick No. 245 in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the team’s first of two seventh-round selections.

Norwood is a 6-foot, 192-pound cornerback from Fort Smith, Arkansas. He left Oklahoma after his redshirt junior season.

Norwood started five games as a true freshman in 2017 before become a full-time starter in 2018, his most productive season. In 14 games, he recorded 38 tackles, two tackles for loss, one sack, one interception and defended five passes.

He missed the entire 2019 season with an injury suffered in training camp, but returned for 2020. He had to work his way back into the starting lineup, but started five of Oklahoma’s last six games and finished the year with five interceptions to lead the Big 12. He returned one for a touchdown.

The Steelers have a significant need at cornerback after the release of starter Steven Nelson and Mike Hilton’s departure via free agency. Norwood, Justin Layne and James Pierre will vie for playing time in the slot behind starters Joe Haden and Cam Sutton.