2022 Steelers Training Camp Preview - Is Tre Norwood The Steelers Next Breakout Player?

By most, if not all measures, Tre Norwood's rookie season was a tremendous success.

In 17 games played last season, Norwood contributed 32 solo tackles, four of them for loss. He allowed only two passing touchdowns, while collecting an interception, and four passes defended in coverage with a completion percentage of 72.5%; not bad for a seventh-round pick with average physical metrics.

During the course of the season, Norwood showed his ability to make plays in different areas of the field. In his breakout performance against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 6, Norwood registered a pass deflected and three tackles, one of them for loss. His ubiquitous performance on the field earned him the highest overall grade on the team from Pro Football Focus. By all accounts, Norwood was not just a mere contributor, but he evolved into an integral part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' secondary. 

Norwood's rookie season came with its fair share of struggles. His passing rating allowed of 102.1 was among the highest in the team's secondary, while allowing a total of 320 yards on completions.

Even with the decrease in defensive snaps during the last seven weeks of the 2021 season, Norwood would make good use of them, most notably in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns, where he nabbed the game-winning interception to seal the victory in what was Ben Roethlisberger's last home game. 

For Norwood this season, development and consistency will be keys to success. As he showed in his senior year with Oklahoma, Norwood has the ability to raise his game to a level that will make him a constant threat to opposing offenses. With the veteran Joe Haden no longer in the fold, Norwood should see his importance rise along with his defensive snaps.

As he continues to evolve, Norwood may no longer be a well-kept secret in the Steelers' defense. The potential of him becoming one of the premier players on the team's secondary is a real possibility.