“I Thought I Was Going To New York”
July 23rd, 2026
Bucs rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter.
Smokescreen or reality?
The NFL Draft is always a wild ride. Players (and their agents) think they will be selected by team X, Y or Z, and then they go elsewhere. Sometimes intel is good. Sometimes it’s garbage or intended to lead a gossip-hound agent to leak information that distracts another club.
Joe loves hearing about the drama.
Bucs rookie second-round pick Josiah Trotter told the Mr. Bucs Nation YouTube channel that he thought he was headed for the Big Apple to play for John Harbaugh.
“I [felt] like if I had made it to the Bucs there was a high chance they would take me, but I know there were some teams, from some grades like that, I could have went earlier than [Tampa Bay],” Trotter said. “I didn’t know if I was going to land in Seattle; that was one. And then the Giants, I thought I was probably going to be in New York.
“Yeah, I thought I was going to be in New York. Dallas was another one. Denver, if I had made it all the way to Denver. There was definitely some teams. … From the grades and stuff I had, I didn’t know if I was going to make it to the Bucs or not.”
Trotter added there were a couple of teams that gave him a scenario, saying if X happens, we’ll draft you. He did not name those teams.
Note how Trotter twice mentioned “grades” he had entering the draft. That’s not him listening to Mel Kiper or Sean Sullivan. That’s certainly “grade” intel via Trotter’s agent.
Joe’s just glad Trotter is in Tampa. There were other inside linebackers Joe preferred in the draft, but 21-year-old Trotter should represent a significant upgrade and a high ceiling.
July 23rd, 2026 at 2:14 pm
hmm that seems like talking about other hot chicks on a first date
July 23rd, 2026 at 2:27 pm
Denver was the team that I had heard loved him. But that was at the end of round 2 instead of the middle.
July 23rd, 2026 at 2:49 pm
glad he’s a BUC!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
July 23rd, 2026 at 4:49 pm
It’ll be epic ! Anzalone for a mentor perfect!
July 23rd, 2026 at 5:06 pm
Looking forward to his maturation as a player. He’s so young… Not even legally old enough to drink. Let that sink in. But yes, high ceiling. High energy, hard hitter, there’s a lot to like with this kid.
July 23rd, 2026 at 5:22 pm
Seems like a great kid. Let’s see what he can do. I’m confident he’ll be an upgrade from 36 year old lb, and some other guy named SVD who better come out balling or he’s destined for special teams. Maybe that will motivate him.
Anzalone, Trotter and Roseboom are significantly than what we had at LB last year. Let’s go JT!!!!
July 23rd, 2026 at 5:52 pm
An exit from David aka I AM THAT GUY that was loafing helped recreate faith in the new acquisitions. We definitely patched up a weak spot on our defense.
Like every off season Bowles will tweak the scheme. Hopefully the new guys will master the scheme by week 10.
We need to score on every quarter. 🤞
July 23rd, 2026 at 6:09 pm
On paper, this was a great draft. They drafted in places of need. They got top guys with reputations for being hard chargers.
Each of these guys seems like they could contribute significantly this season.
The changes to the roster are dramatic. The guys they’ve replaced were not productive: Evans. Reddick. SirVocea. David.