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When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Josiah Trotter Jr. in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, they added one of the most instinctive linebackers in the class. CBS Sports compared Trotter to Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean, a comparison rooted in how both players approach the position rather than their physical measurements.
Like Dean, Trotter isn't defined by elite size or testing numbers. Instead, he wins with instincts, football IQ, and an ability to diagnose plays before they develop. He's a downhill linebacker who consistently beats blockers to the spot, making plays against the run with physicality and confidence. Scouts consistently praised Trotter's ability to read through traffic, take proper angles, and deliver punishing hits once he arrived at the ball carrier. ESPN even labeled him the best hitter in the 2026 draft class, highlighting the physical style of play that has become one of his trademarks.
The comparison also fits because of the questions both players faced entering the NFL. Neither linebacker possessed prototypical size for the position, and both had concerns surrounding their ability to consistently hold up in coverage against NFL offenses. However, their instincts and toughness often helped offset those perceived limitations.
For Todd Bowles' defense, Trotter's strengths could allow him to contribute early. Bowles has always valued linebackers who play fast, attack downhill, and aren't afraid to take on blockers. Trotter checks each of those boxes while bringing the football pedigree that comes from being the son of former NFL All-Pro Jeremiah Trotter.
Of course, pro comparisons are exactly that, just comparisons.
They don't guarantee the same career path. But if Trotter develops into the type of instinctive, physical linebacker that Nakobe Dean has become when healthy, the Buccaneers will have found another long-term building block for the middle of their defense. For a team beginning a new era after Lavonte David's retirement, that's exactly the type of projection Tampa Bay was hoping for.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Early pro comparison for Bucs' Josiah Trotter ahead of training camp
Continue reading...
Like Dean, Trotter isn't defined by elite size or testing numbers. Instead, he wins with instincts, football IQ, and an ability to diagnose plays before they develop. He's a downhill linebacker who consistently beats blockers to the spot, making plays against the run with physicality and confidence. Scouts consistently praised Trotter's ability to read through traffic, take proper angles, and deliver punishing hits once he arrived at the ball carrier. ESPN even labeled him the best hitter in the 2026 draft class, highlighting the physical style of play that has become one of his trademarks.
The comparison also fits because of the questions both players faced entering the NFL. Neither linebacker possessed prototypical size for the position, and both had concerns surrounding their ability to consistently hold up in coverage against NFL offenses. However, their instincts and toughness often helped offset those perceived limitations.
For Todd Bowles' defense, Trotter's strengths could allow him to contribute early. Bowles has always valued linebackers who play fast, attack downhill, and aren't afraid to take on blockers. Trotter checks each of those boxes while bringing the football pedigree that comes from being the son of former NFL All-Pro Jeremiah Trotter.
Of course, pro comparisons are exactly that, just comparisons.
They don't guarantee the same career path. But if Trotter develops into the type of instinctive, physical linebacker that Nakobe Dean has become when healthy, the Buccaneers will have found another long-term building block for the middle of their defense. For a team beginning a new era after Lavonte David's retirement, that's exactly the type of projection Tampa Bay was hoping for.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Early pro comparison for Bucs' Josiah Trotter ahead of training camp
Continue reading...
