Todd Bowles Says Josiah Trotter Can Play Outside Linebacker
June 18th, 2026
Bucs rookie inside linebacker Josiah Trotter.
So many toys now reside in the Buccaneers’ front-7. Different toys, better toys, much more fun stuff that asking SirVocea Dennis to blitz.
Joe did a double-take hearing Todd Bowles say this week that rookie second-round pick Josiah Trotter can play outside linebacker.
That’s right, outside.
Not known for his speed, and standing 6-2, 237 pounds per his NFL Scouting Combine measurements, Trotter has impressed Bowles with his skillset.
“Trotter’s like 6-2 and he’s long, and he runs a lot better than people think he does when you see him in person,” Bowles told Sports Day Tampa Bay. “And he can moonlight outside as well as inside. And he’s a heck of a blitzer. You really feel his presence when the pads come on, so I’m excited to see it.”
Joe loves how Trotter and first-round pick Rueben Bain, the Miami Mauler edge rusher, are only 21 years old. They can still get faster and more powerful.
No, Joe doesn’t see Trotter lining up on the edge much, but former Bowles-Bucs inside linebacker Devin White did occasionally. And Joe can envision Bowles getting creative (too creative?) with all his new blood.
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