Buffalo Bills
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Bills connected to intriguing linebacker.
The Buffalo Bills could very well go defensive heavy in the NFL Draft.
Buffalo has already overhauled their defense this offseason, and that is expected to continue in the NFL Draft. Although Buffalo traded away their second-round pick for DJ Moore, the Bills still have seven total picks, including the 26th overall pick.
Ahead of the NFL Draft, ESPN NFL insider Jordan Reid connected the team to linebacker Josiah Trotter out of Missouri.
“Wide receiver and linebacker are the two positions that have been heavily linked to the Bills,” Reid wrote. “Even after the acquisition of Moore, they are looking for true separators who can play a multitude of spots in formations. On the linebacker front, one name to watch is Josiah Trotter (Missouri). He’s a high-upside option who can be a long-term contributor in the middle.”
Trotter spent last season at Missouri after transferring from West Virginia. He recorded 84 tackles, 13 tackles for a loss, and 2 sacks last season, and projects to be a future starter in the NFL. He was named first-team All-SEC in 2025.
With Matt Milano and Shaq Thompson being free agents, the Bills need some more linebackers, especially with the team shifting to a 3-4 defense. So, Reid believes Buffalo could use its first-round pick on Trotter to address the linebacker position and help bolster the defense.
Trotter Scouting Profile
Trotter is the son of former NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter and is the brother of current NFL linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. So, he comes from a football bloodline, which should help him in the NFL.
Ahead of the NFL Draft, NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein compared him to Nick Bolton. The analyst also believes Trotter is a future starter in the NFL.
“Ascending inside linebacker with NFL bloodlines and alpha energy,” Zierlein wrote. “Trotter’s heavy hands allow him to fit and choke off gaps, but he’s inconsistent in doing so. Block collisions need to be balanced with efficient play-arounds to create more tackle tries. Pursuit speed to the flanks is average, but he is quick to cut and accelerate so he stays close to runs bouncing wide.
“He stacks backfield production with well-timed run blitzes and crafty rush work. Coverage is the concern, with spotty zone awareness/spacing and the risk of being mismatched in man. Trotter’s wiring and disruptive qualities make him easy to project as a productive, long-time starter in the middle but a defense might need to protect him in coverage.”
Trotter’s strengths are his tackling and his ability to evade blocks. However, his coverage play is a concern, and is something he needs to work on in the NFL. So it could take time to develop into a starting linebacker.
Bills GM Believes Team Needs to Add at LB
Buffalo has been active this offseason, but one area of need is still at linebacker.
If Milano and Thompson don’t re-sign, the team could very well look at the draft to replace them. But, even if the Bills don’t draft a linebacker, general manager Brandon Beane said the team needs to add at linebacker.
“We do need to continue to add more [at linebacker]. We’ve had conversations through free agency with linebackers, other positions. We have not chosen to add one at this point,” said Beane at the league meetings. “At this time, there’s guys that are like,’you know what? I didn’t get the money I was looking for. I kind of want to wait until after the draft and see where guys go.’ You’re kind of at that point with some of the vets that have played.”
The 2026 NFL Draft is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh.