Josiah Trotter arrived in Tampa Bay with a reputation that came with a catch. The Buccaneers liked the ceiling on the inside linebacker, but the pre-draft conversation kept circling back to the same issue: coverage. He was viewed as a downhill force at Missouri, the kind of player who could blitz and stuff the run, but some around the league weren’t convinced he’d ever become a true every-down linebacker.
NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler had Trotter with a third-round grade and slotted him as the draft’s sixth-best linebacker.
“Trotter doesn’t have playmaking awareness in coverage (at least, not yet), but his run instincts and take-on skills are among the best in this draft class,” wrote Brugler.
The Buccaneers weren’t bothered. Trotter is only 21, and the team clearly believed there was plenty of room for growth. One game into his NFL career, that bet already looks pretty sharp.
Trotter made history in his debut by becoming the first player ever to record both a sack and pick-six in his first game. He also paced Tampa Bay in tackles and was the most influential defender on the field for the Buccaneers.
The rookie didn’t stop there. Along with the interception, he added a pass defended, a nice early sign that the coverage questions may not define him for long. He was on the field for 91% of Tampa Bay’s defensive snaps, which says plenty about how quickly the coaching staff is leaning on him.
Pro Football Focus gave Trotter an 85.6 coverage grade, the best mark among rookie linebackers. In a draft class that included names like Sonny Styles and Jacob Rodriguez - players who were seen as much more ready to play right away - Trotter emerging as the most impactful rookie linebacker in Week 1 stands out.
Inside the building, the excitement apparently wasn’t new. Rondé Barber said in the offseason that his sources within the organization were raving about Trotter and believed he could be the best player on defense as a rookie.
It’s just one game, but the early returns are loud. If Trotter keeps building from here and grows into the every-down linebacker Tampa Bay envisioned, the Buccaneers may have found a foundational piece and maybe the next great linebacker in franchise history.
In Other News...
Warren Sapp Lands In An Awkward Off-Field Tampa Scene
Warren Sapp found himself in an uncomfortable off-field scene in Tampa this week, drawing attention at a City Council meeting tied to a flood-prevention project. Council chairman Alan Clendenin and Tampa Police intervened after Sapp was allegedly causing a disturbance, and the council asked that he be trespassed for the day.
Sapp said he was at City Hall only to pick up paperwork and disputed the authority to remove him from the public building. It was the sort of public dustup that has little to do with football, but for a former Buccaneers star still known around Tampa, it was enough to put his name back in the local spotlight for all the wrong reasons. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Head Into Home Opener With One Lineup Concern Still Lingering
The Buccaneers are heading into their home opener with a little more clarity on the roster, thanks in part to another look at safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. Tampa Bay elevated Melifonwu from the practice squad for its Week 2 matchup, giving the secondary another option as the team sorts through a handful of injury questions on the eve of its first game at Raymond James Stadium.
Miles Killebrew, Jacob Parrish and Jalen McMillan all landed on the questionable list, leaving at least one lineup spot worth watching as kickoff approaches. Sean Tucker is expected back after sitting out Week 1, but Melifonwu remains part of the subtext here too: he was active last week without getting into the game, and this elevation also leaves Tampa Bay with one more practice squad call-up available later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Rookie WR Suddenly Has A Week 2 Opportunity Fans Will Notice
Ted Hurst III made a quiet but useful first impression in his debut, catching all three of his targets for 36 yards and showing the kind of steadiness Tampa Bays staff has already noticed in practice. General manager Jason Licht has also pointed to Hursts consistency behind the scenes, a sign that the rookie wideout is not just hanging around for developmental reps but is already carving out a place in the Buccaneers plans this season.
Now comes a chance to turn that early trust into something more visible. With Week 2 bringing Cleveland to town, Hurst is positioned for another opportunity to contribute, and it will be worth watching how the Bucs continue to work him into the offense as the year gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]