The second-round pick is electrifying Tampa Bay with his physical temperament and NFL pedigree, earning high praise from Todd Bowles as he steps into a revamped linebacker room.
Early indications show the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aced the 2026 NFL Draft, with rookie talents like Rueben Bain Jr., Ted Hurst III, Keionte Scott, and Josiah Trotter making instant impact at training camp.
Trotter, the Bucs' second-round pick, is the latest young player to be praised, with head coach Todd Bowles talking about his maturity and playstyle on Tuesday.
"He had a heck of a day yesterday. … He’s probably a guy you don’t wanna mess with," Bowles said. "He plays with the right temperament. He plays the right way."
In his last season with Missouri, Trotter led the Tigers with 84 tackles, adding 13 tackles for loss and two sacks en route to a first-team All-SEC nod.
Trotter began his college career at West Virginia, redshirting his freshman season due to a season-ending leg injury.
However, the following season, Trotter burst onto the scene for the Mountaineers, earning Freshman All-American honors.
Trotter also captured Big 12 Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year, being named an Honorable Mention All-Big 12.
He joins the Bucs after playing just two full seasons in college, but brings an NFL legacy with him.
Trotter's father, Jeremiah, was a four-time Pro Bowler, playing 11 seasons in the league.
As a pass rusher, Trotter attacks lineman with a variety of power and finesse moves, using quick hands to penetrate the line of scrimmage.
The 6-foot-2 Philadelphia native excels against the rush, posting a stellar run-defense grade of 89.2, according to Pro Football Focus.
Trotter is a solid defender in zone coverage, but will need to continue to improve in man-to-man responsibilities.
Linebackers coach Mike Caldwell is extremely high on his new man in the middle, saying Trotter has "no ceiling" for how good he can become.
Trotter's ability in pursuit and run defense is a perfect fit in Tampa's defensive scheme.
CBS Sports reporter Mike Renner loved Trotter's fit in Tampa, giving the Bucs an A-grade for drafting Trotter.
"I love the Bucs draft so far," Renner said. "To me, he's built to play for Todd Bowles' defense."
Following the retirement of Bucs legend Lavonte David, addressing linebacker early in the draft became a likely result.
Trotter will step into a linebacking room filled with veteran presences, including Alex Anzalone, who came over from the Detroit Lions. The Bucs also added Christian Rozeboom from the division rival Carolina Panthers after he recorded a team-high 122 tackles last season.
Learning from veterans like Anzalone and Rozeboom will be invaluable for Trotter, who are tackling machines in their own rights.
While filling the shoes of David is an extremely tall task, these recent comments from coaches seeing Trotter on the field is a promising start to his career.
