Josiah Trotter Promises Physical Play
April 24th, 2026
Bucs third-round pick linebacker Josiah Trotter.
Already it seems Bucs fans are not hip with the pick of linebacker Josiah Trotter from Missouri in the second round, just judging by the social media outrage and comments on this here corner of the interwebs.
Trotter, in a Zoom call with the local pen and mic club minutes after the Bucs selected him, promised to make an impression on Bucs fans with his physical play and all-out hustle.
“Obviously, when it comes to my strengths, without a doubt it is going to be physicality,” Trotter said. “That’s how I was brought up. But definitely physicality and instincts.
“I play with my brain. I try to place myself ahead of the play.”
Trotter acknowledged the Bucs lost a great player in Lavonte David to retirement. He wants to be a man on the field that both his dad, former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, and David would be proud of.
“I want to be a leader, a tone-setter,” Trotter said. “A player who is going to be productive.
“Be an alpha, be a leader. A green-dot guy.”
On playing only playing in 24 games, 12 each at West Virginia and Missouri, Trotter said, “I’m just scratching the surface.”
.@MizzouFootball @TrotterJosiah it's a great draft season for ILBers; but Trotter makes you watch…That family AXE is real. Yes he brings the wood but he isn't a "blind dog in a meathouse". #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/GvThSFj23R
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) April 15, 2026
April 24th, 2026 at 9:35 pm
He’s scratching the surface, we’re scratching our heads. Good luck kid, break the Licht second string jinx.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:36 pm
Great we drafted another lb who can’t cover thanks Jason and Todd
April 24th, 2026 at 9:38 pm
1st team all SEC and hes 21. GREAT PICK
April 24th, 2026 at 9:40 pm
The more I watch the more I see why they picked him. Dude is a run stuffer with a serious pass rush. I saw a highlight of him in coverage and he covered well so there is plenty of potential there. SVD contract is up after this year.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:41 pm
Wow, that Baldinger tape makes me like the pick a whole lot more than I did. Good stuff!
April 24th, 2026 at 9:42 pm
Time will tell, but for now I’m like my wife when she rolls her eyes at me and says, “Whatever.”
I’m like, “OK, whatever.” JL you passed on superior talent.
Whatever.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:43 pm
I’m willing to give him a chance he was worth of the pick
April 24th, 2026 at 9:44 pm
He has similarities to KJ Britt, I’m not sure he will crack the starting lineup. This might go down as one of Lichts worst draft picks.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:45 pm
Shad Banks tomorrow, 6th/7th round
The only thing we need is an LBer that can in that grey area line between the box and the back end. An $LB, if you will.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:46 pm
I don’t like this pick.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:46 pm
What exactly is going on with Jermod McCoy?
The guy at his pro day did every single test, speed, agility, jumping, excelled – why is he not considered healthy?
The guy is a top 10 talent – I’d LOVE to see the Bucs take him. What exactly is it that they think is wrong with him? Even if he has a short career, you’re going to get an excellent corner for at least a few years. I’d easily spend a 3rd on that guy.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:46 pm
4 more picks, it’s like football Christmas
“He has similarities to KJ Britt, I’m not sure he will crack the starting lineup.“
Terrible comp, he plays like his brother. Not as athletic, but very sound techinically and not nearly as stiff as Britt.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
He only played in 23 games
But he had 176 tackles, 17 TFL, 3 Sacks
I love his physicality , he plays fast
He thinks on his feet, has a high football IQ
He’s the type of defensive player we’re looking for
The soft days are gone, it’s a New Day at 1 Buc
April 24th, 2026 at 9:50 pm
24 games “”
April 24th, 2026 at 9:51 pm
They say Jermod McCoy need a new bone plug in his knee
April 24th, 2026 at 9:53 pm
What you won’t let me comment
April 24th, 2026 at 9:53 pm
I saw him beat the tackle or o-lineman around the around the corner and he looked like an edge rusher. Even if he does not start at mic right away I think he will make a difference somewhere.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:53 pm
Fire Todd
April 24th, 2026 at 9:54 pm
Hard hitting thumper. I’ll take it. Has to learn to read and cover zone, but have zero concerns about his tackling ability. Has the size and speed and nastiness we’re coveting.
Solid pick. Natural 3-4 weakside linebacker.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:55 pm
We want defensive players that hit hard
Bring the pain, we don’t want to cover RBs
We want to knock them out
April 24th, 2026 at 9:56 pm
Initially I was disappointed with this pic but I’m thinking that maybe he is a bit more athletic from what I’ve seen than CJ Allen. He is only 21 years old and only has 2 years of college underneath him so I think he can improve even more. And he certainly has that dawg in him. Seems this draft is about getting relentless guys who play with their hair on fire.
We needed that last year and I think it was the number reason why we felt flat on our faces down the stretch.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:57 pm
We traded back with the Packers, interesting.
April 24th, 2026 at 9:58 pm
Jason Licht traded down
April 24th, 2026 at 10:01 pm
I like CJ Allen
But he wasn’t violent enough for me
I like young players like Bain and Trotter
Two guys that full of hate for the opposite players
April 24th, 2026 at 10:02 pm
Fake news. The kid is a stud linebacker.
April 24th, 2026 at 10:04 pm
a 5th for a move back 7 spots? Licht is cookin
April 24th, 2026 at 10:04 pm
Perhaps we won’t have to kick-off thru the endzone. I see him on kick coverage team at least.
April 24th, 2026 at 10:05 pm
If he’s good enough for Baldy, he’s good enough for me.
April 24th, 2026 at 10:06 pm
Great! He will draw personal foul penalties.
April 24th, 2026 at 10:07 pm
Baldy is a closeted Buc fan
April 24th, 2026 at 10:09 pm
I honestly do feel a little better about the pick after watching that Baldy Breakdown.
Maybe he will be good.
IDK if he’ll be as good as CJ Allen, but hopefully he’ll be close.
April 24th, 2026 at 10:09 pm
So for all of you going by some site that is telling you garbage… If you actually watched the kid play,
he is a great sideline to sideline,
he is great at reading plays,
he is fast,
He has explosive
He is a sure tackler
LFG.
April 24th, 2026 at 10:11 pm
I really haven’t looked at our schedule for next season , but if this team is the typical 500 team that Bowles has coached since he’s been HC then it doesn’t matter anyway. Hopefully the next HC & GM will want his own people. If it works out then we have several more years of 8-9 or 10 win football to look forward to. This is gonna be a tough season for Buc Fans cause we want the Bucs to Win but don’t necessarily want the current HC or GM & front office people to succeed,
April 24th, 2026 at 10:19 pm
That tape don’t lie. 24 games and he’s that quick and smart? I’m sold.
April 24th, 2026 at 10:31 pm
Baldy’s tape looks pretty good, doesn’t it? It’s funny, most of us are insanely unqualified to criticize the pick. Instead picking players that we’re relying on capsule profiles, we read in magazines or online. These guys do this stuff for a living. Do they make mistakes? Sure. But to act like some poster pundit has the right answer? Get out of here.
April 24th, 2026 at 10:33 pm
what I found: “Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter was a major impact player in 2025, earning First Team All-SEC recognition from the league coaches and Second Team from the Associated Press. The former West Virginia transfer started all 12 games and led the team with 84 total tackles, while his 13.0 tackles for loss ranked second on the team. He was rated by Pro Football Focus as one of the nation’s top run defenders, earning a grade of 90.7 in rush defense. Trotter’s strengths are his exceptional instincts and discipline against the run, demonstrating reliable tackling and the ability to diagnose plays quickly from the inside linebacker position.”
April 24th, 2026 at 10:40 pm
After watching Devin White struggle in pass protection. I’m second guessing why they would pick a linebacker that struggles in pass protection. Unless Bowles has a scheme plan to keep him out of zone coverage situations? I feel once opposing offenses figure out they can just run tightend routes right at this guy all day. Thats exactly what they’ll do every 3rd down. Seems like a great family and a wonderful downhill run stuffing linebacker. But unfortunately in Bowles defense the inside linebacker gets a lot of coverage assignments. I get that they signed Alonso and he’s a good coverage lb. Doesn’t that just mean teams will slide over to the weaker coverage lb?
April 24th, 2026 at 10:46 pm
Impressive tape, seems like.