Tampa Bay adds promising linebacker Josiah Trotter, aiming to bolster their defense and secure long-term talent at the position.
At Pick 46 of this year’s NFL Draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers grabbed Missouri LB Josiah Trotter.
Trotter only played two seasons of college football, missing his freshman year at West Virginia with an injury.
In 2024, Trotter made a big first impression, becoming the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
The next season, Trotter transferred to Missouri, and became a first-team All Big SEC performer.
Trotter comes from a football family. His father, Jeremiah Trotter, briefly played with the Bucs in 2007 but is best known for his three stints with the Philadelphia Eagles (1998-2001, 2004-06, 2009), where he was a two-time All-Pro. Trotter’s older brother, Jeremiah Jr., played at Clemson from 2021-23 and won a Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2024.
Trotter is known for stopping the run.
His run defense game was 89.2 via Pro Football Focus, and he was also a sound tackler, with his missed tackle rate coming in at a low 11.1 percent.
As a redshirt freshman at West Virginia, Trotter ended the year with 93 tackles, good for ninth in the Big 12, and had an 80.9 run defense grade per PFF.
From there, Trotter became one of the best defenders in the SEC, being named first-team all-conference last season.
Trotter’s relative lack of college football experience is something that scouts have pointed out, but growing up in a football family offsets what would be a bigger issue for other prospects.
He stands at 6-foot-2, 237 pounds, with long legs, a short upper body and good movement.
As good as Trotter was in defending the run, he struggled against the pass. Pro Football Focus gave him a 49.4 grade in 2024 and a 47.9 grade this past season.
So how does Trotter fit with the Bucs?
Well, it was widely expected that defense would be the name of the game for Tampa in this year’s draft, and it indeed, that’s been the case. Tampa went with Miami defensive end Rueben Bain Jr., who many feel was a steal at No. 15.
Now, they’re getting a linebacker to help account for the loss of Lavonte David, who retired last month after 14 seasons with the Bucs.
Tampa also signed veteran Alex Anzalone from the Detroit Lions, and in Trotter, the franchise is setting themselves up long term for the position.
Read more about Trotter in our pre-draft profile here.
The Bucs have five picks left in the draft.
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