“Classic, Old School Stack ‘Backer”
May 18th, 2026
Rookie Bucs linebacker Josiah Trotter.
What did the Bucs get in second-round pick Josiah Trotter?
For starters, they hope they got a player better than Trotter’s brother, the Eagles’ fifth-round pick linebacker in 2024.
Longtime NFL Films Xs and Os guru Greg Cosell isn’t worried about that.
Why? Because Josiah Trotter is taller and strong than his older brother. Cosell talked about the younger Trotter with reverance during a pre-draft visit to the Inside The Birds podcast.
“He is your classic, old school stack ‘backer … with heavy hands, a physical game, stack-and-shed, contact violence,” Cosell said of Trotter. “I mean, everything about this guy says he’s a mike like backer in a base 4-3 [defense]. … Now he was an excellent blitzer, as well, but I don’t think he’d start his career — even if he’s a starter right away — I don’t think he’d play in your sub [package] early on, but he’s old school. Given who is dad is, that probably doesn’t surprise anybody.”
The Bucs, of course, don’t play a 4-3 defense, but that doesn’t mean Trotter won’t fit. Joe is curious to see what Trotter’s game speed looks like. He’s a big guy, 6-2, 237 pounds, and he doesn’t have Devin White kind of speed.
Count on Trotter being tested by offensive coordinators early and often. Trotter just turned 21. The quality of his rookie season likely will be determined by how fast he learns and adjusts.