Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht had a full circle moment waiting for him in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft.
With the 46th overall pick, Licht selected Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter, the son of Eagles legend Jeremiah Trotter. On the surface, it was a classic Tampa Bay move to add a physical, downhill defender to a defense already loaded with speed and aggression.
Jason Licht
Dec 7, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht stands on the sidelines during the first quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
But the selection has a layer of history that Licht himself could never have scripted, a thread connecting two eras and two generations in a way that’s really different than the typical draft-day narrative.
Nearly two decades ago, Licht was sitting in the Philadelphia Eagles front office when the franchise made the painful decision to part ways with Jeremiah Trotter. It was 2007, and the four-time Pro Bowl linebacker was nearing the end of a decorated run in midnight green.
The plan was to handle the separation with dignity, face to face, the way the organization believed Trotter deserved after years of leadership and passionate play that defined the team’s identity during the Andy Reid era.
But then the news was leaked.
Before the Eagles could deliver the message themselves, word got out through the media grapevine. Trotter found out from the outside world rather than from the men who had worn the same colors he had bled for.
It was a breakdown in the process that stuck with everyone in that building, including Licht, the club’s vice president of player personnel at the time, who witnessed the fallout firsthand. The mishandling left a scar on what should have been a difficult but respectful farewell.
Licht revisited that uncomfortable moment during an appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football, pulling back the curtain on a front-office failure that still gnaws at him years later.
“The decision of the team was that we were going to release Jeremiah Trotter, which was big news at the time. He had been our leader. He’s a bad man. You don’t want to mess with him. We couldn’t tell anybody. … It was very secretive,” he said.
#Bucs GM Jason Licht drafted LB Josiah Trotter in Round 2, son of #Eagles legend Jeremiah Trotter.
Licht was with Philly in ‘07 when Trotter was cut, but the news leaked before they told him.
Licht revealed how that happened on @gmfb. It’s an A+ story. pic.twitter.com/0O9CwbRsy0
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 8, 2026
He did not shy away from the details. He explained how a move meant to be handled with professionalism and personal accountability was undercut by a leak, leaving one of the franchise’s most beloved warriors to absorb the blow publicly and painfully, robbed of the courtesy every veteran deserves.
Now, the football gods have offered something resembling redemption, or at least a poetic second act.
Josiah Trotter joins Jason Licht to bring legendary family ferocity to Tampa
Josiah Trotter arrives in Tampa as a legitimate second-round talent with bite. The younger Trotter plays with the same ferocity that made his father a fan favorite in Philadelphia.
Trotter is a physical downhill linebacker who led Missouri with 84 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and two sacks in 2025. At 6’2″ and 238 pounds, he plays with exceptional instincts against the run, diagnosing blocking schemes quickly and beating offensive linemen to contact points.
He delivers powerful hits, wraps up reliably in space and shows the lateral movement needed to scrape down the line. His knockout power when engaging blockers flush and his ability to identify screen passes make him effective near the line of scrimmage.
Tampa Bay selected Trotter at pick 46, earlier than most analysts projected him. He profiles as an early-down run defender who pairs well with coverage specialist Alex Anzalone. His ability to develop into an every-down linebacker depends on improving his coverage skills and processing speed in zone concepts.
For the Trotter family, the moment carries weight beyond the contract. It is a chance to turn the page.