The Buccaneers may have landed one of the biggest steals in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Josiah Trotter is already making the case.
At the halfway point of the 2026 season, ESPN took a look at the league’s top rookies and slotted the Tampa Bay linebacker fourth on its list. The only players ahead of him were former Ohio State defenders Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles, who held the top two spots, and Browns wide receiver Denzel Boston at No. 3.
Trotter’s numbers tell the story of a rookie who has wasted no time settling in. He has piled up 62 tackles, one sack and one interception, and he has clearly made a bigger early impact than veteran linebacker partner Alex Anzalone.
ESPN’s Matt Bowen pointed to Trotter’s instincts as a major reason for the ranking.
"Trotter's play recognition stands out on the tape," Bowen wrote. "He is quick to diagnose against the run, getting eyes on formation keys and pulling guards to make tackles. His 43% run-stop win rate ranks 10th among all linebackers, and he has the physical play style to drop the hammer on contact."
Bowen also highlighted the coverage production that made Trotter such an intriguing prospect in the first place, even though that part of his game was seen as a possible concern coming out of Missouri.
"Plus, Trotter has created some on-the-ball production in coverage, which includes a pick-six on quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals," Bowen wrote. "He's an ascending player who can also be schemed as a blitzer in Todd Bowles' defense."
What makes the ranking even more striking is where Trotter was selected. He went 46th overall, outside the first 32 picks, which usually means a prospect has to work harder to earn league-wide respect. Instead, he’s already sitting inside the top five of ESPN’s rookie list.
That’s especially encouraging for Tampa Bay because every other player in ESPN’s top 10 was drafted before Trotter. The Bucs didn’t just get a strong rookie at a key position - they got major value with the pick.
And with this being the first season in 15 years that the Buccaneers are without Lavonte David in the middle of the defense, Trotter’s emergence gives them reason to believe they may have found the player to fill that role.
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