Josiah Trotter, a linebacker from Missouri, was selected by the Buccaneers with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft. He is the third member of his family to be drafted into the NFL.
Key points
Josiah Trotter was drafted by the Buccaneers.
He was the 46th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Trotter is the third member of his family to be drafted.
He transferred to Mizzou from West Virginia.
He led Mizzou in tackling in 2025.
Mentioned in this story
Josiah TrotterJeremiah Trotter Sr.Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
Tampa Bay BuccaneersMissouri Tigers
Mizzouâs âAxe Manâ is following in his familyâs footsteps as an NFL Draft pick.Missouri football middle linebacker Josiah Trotter is officially heading to the league after the Buccaneers used the 46th-overall pick to bring him to Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft on Friday, April 24, in Pittsburgh.
He is the second Mizzou player drafted to the NFL this season, coming off the board exactly one pick after Zion Young went No. 45 overall to the Baltimore Ravens.
Trotter is also the third member of his family to hear their name called in the NFL Draft. Jeremiah Trotter Sr., who is Josiah Trotterâs father, was a third-round pick in 1998. Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who is the Mizzou linebackerâs older brother, was a fifth round pick by the Eagles in 2024.
Josiah Trotter spent one year with Mizzou after transferring to the Tigers from West Virginia, where he spent the first two years of his college career. The linebacker led Mizzou in tackling in 2025 and declared early for the draft process, leaving college after his redshirt sophomore season.
Here is what you need to know about former Missouri middle linebacker and second round draft pick Josiah Trotter:
Josiah Trotter college stats
Trotter was, by quite some margin, Mizzouâs leading tackler with 84 stops in 12 games last season, working out to seven tackles per appearance. He led Missouriâs second level with 13 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, including two sacks.
Heâs a force working downhill and showed good tracking speed and awareness to get horizontal when necessary.
Trotter was strong against the run in the college game and was able to impact the quarterback when asked with well-timed blitzes.
His main talent is his strength and physicality, though. Heâs a thumper.
Q&A
What pick was Josiah Trotter selected in the NFL Draft?
Josiah Trotter was selected with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Which team drafted Josiah Trotter from Missouri?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Josiah Trotter from Missouri.
Who are Josiah Trotter's family members that were also NFL Draft picks?
Josiah Trotter's father, Jeremiah Trotter Sr., was a third-round pick in 1998, and his brother, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., was a fifth-round pick in 2024.
What were Josiah Trotter's college stats at Missouri?
Josiah Trotter led Mizzou in tackling in 2025 before declaring for the NFL Draft.
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Sep 6, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) celebrates after a play during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Sep 6, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) celebrates after a play during the first half against the Kansas Jayhawks at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Josiah Trotter highlights
Trotter (No. 40 for Mizzou) was among the most-consistent players on the Mizzou roster in 2025.
His best game, however, was almost certainly in an October road win at Auburn. Keep an eye on No. 40. He hurdled a blocker for what proved to be the game-icing play.
Josiah Trotter height, weight
Height; weight:Â 6-foot-1â ; 237 pounds
Arm length: 32Πinches
Hand size: 10Πinches
Josiah Trotter combine results
Trotter did not take part in most of the measurable testing in Indianapolis. He sustained what Mizzou called a âminor knee injuryâ that caused him to also miss the Tigersâ bowl game in December.
He did, however, set the best mark for linebackers at the combine with 27 reps in the bench press. That was two more than the second-best linebacker in Indianapolis.
Josiah Trotter high school
Trotter went to St. Josephâs Prep in Philadelphia.
He was a three-star prospect in the Class of 2023.
Nov 22, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) reacts during the first quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Nov 22, 2025; Norman, Oklahoma, USA; Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) reacts during the first quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) dives forward against Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) and safety Mose Phillips III (3) and defensive tackle Marquis Gracial (33) during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Nov 8, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed (10) dives forward against Missouri Tigers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) and safety Mose Phillips III (3) and defensive tackle Marquis Gracial (33) during the second half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Josiah Trotter draft grade
We will update this information in accordance with the USA Today Sports draft tracker.
Does Josiah Trotter fit Tampa Bay's needs?
We will update this information in accordance with the USA Today Sports draft tracker.