With Lavonte David's departure, the Bucs seek their next defensive anchor. Discover if Missouri's Josiah Trotter fits Tampa Bay's future plans.
With one of the greatest linebackers in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history now retired, the franchise could well target that position in the draft.
For the first time since 2011, the Bucs will enter their season without Lavonte David.
Tampa has already planned for its immediate future at linebacker by signing Alex Anzalone from the Detroit Lions. But will they address the position long-term later this month in Pittsburgh?
Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter celebrates a play as the Tigers visit the Oklahoma Sooners on Nov. 22, 2025, at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)In the meantime, Bucs Roundtable will take a closer look at a range of prospects headed for the 2026 draft that might jell with Tampa Bay's current roster, coaching staff, and the team's X's and O's strategies.
Bucs Roundtable has been studying the tape on top defensive talent that might interest the Buccaneers, including defensive ends Cashius Howell from Texas A&M and Miami Hurricane Akheem Mesidor, as well as elite linebackers the likes of Indiana's Aiden Fisherand Georgia's CJ Allen. As the Bucs add depth in their secondary, available star prospects include cornerbacks Davison Igbinosun out of Ohio State, Arizona's Treydan Stukes, South Carolina safety Jalon Kilgore and Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez.
Offensive role players will also be a focal point for Tampa Bay, and our draft profiles feature offensive linemen like Penn State's Vega Ioane, as well as center Trey Zuhn III out of Texas A&M; tight end Kenyon Sadiq out of Oregon; and Georgia State receiver Ted Hurst.
Tampa Bay will make its first selection on opening night at the 2026 draft, with the No. 15 pick, on Thursday, April 23, in Pittsburgh. The team owns a total of seven picks this year, including three in the top 100.
As the draft draws near, we shine a light on Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter.
Missouri LB Josiah Trotter gets to Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer as the Tigers take on the Sooners on Nov. 22, 2025, at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. (Kevin Jairaj/Imagn Images)Old-School Fundamentals
Trotter is thought of as an old-school linebacker who is elite at stopping the run.
Pro Football Focus had Trotter’s run defense grade at 89.2, and his low missed tackle rate of 11.1 percent shows he’s fundamentally sound. He ended the 2025 season with 84 tackles, which finished tied for sixth in the SEC. In 2024, as a redshirt freshman at West Virginia, Trotter ended with 93 tackles, which were good for ninth in the Big 12, and an 80.9 run-defense grade.
Trotter's playing style helped the then-Mountaineer become the Big 12's Defensive Freshman of the Year in 2024 and, recently, first-team All-SEC performer in 2025.
Josiah Trotter is the son of Jeremiah Trotter, No. 54 for the Philadelphia Eagles. Here, Trotter reacts to a play as the Eagles take on the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX on Feb. 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. (Imagn Images Archive)An NFL Pedigree
Buccaneers fans might recognize Trotter's last name. His father, Jeremiah, played for Jon Gruden's Bucs in 2007, and was a stalwart of Andy Reid's Philadelphia Eagles. Jeremiah Trotter played for the Eagles from 1998-2001, then again from 2004-2006, playing for a previous iteration of the Washington Commanders (2002-2003) in between. Trotter made consecutive All-Pro teams in Philly in 2000 and 2001, when he earned first-team honors.
After his brief run with the Bucs, Trotter ended his career with one more stint in Philly in 2009.
Josiah is set to become the second of Jeremiah Trotter's sons to play in the NFL. His older brother, Jeremiah Jr., was an All-American at Clemson and won a Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2024.
On-Field Strengths
Normally, a player having only two years of college game experience would be a concern coming into the draft. But Trotter's dad being an All-Pro LB offsets a lot of that inexperience and helps give him a high football IQ. The 6-foot-2, 237-pounder has a high-cut frame (long legs, short upper body), and moves well. Part of what makes Trotter an effective run defender is his ability to blitz, and time his blitzes in a way that allows him to go through gaps.
Missouri LB Josiah Trotter takes questions from reporters at the NFL combine on Feb. 25, 2026, at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)Areas for Improvement
Trotter being high cut is potential challenge, making it difficult to go against blockers in the run game. For as good as Trotter was in the run game, he struggled in pass coverage, getting a 49.4 grade from PFF in 2024 and a 47.9 grade this past season.
Trotter also has an injury history, tearing his ACL during his first season at West Virginia in 2023.
Prospect Draft Positon
The Mock Draft Database has Trotter as the No. 64 overall prospect, projecting him to go late in the second round. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles is fond of linebackers with high football IQs, and Trotter checks that box. We'll see if he ends up joining one of his dad's old teams.
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