The Tampa Bay Buccaneers did indeed load up on the defensive side of the ball in the 2026 NFL Draft, pretty much addressing all of their big needs on that unit for head coach Todd Bowles with four different players at four areas of need, having filled out the depth in the free agency period with players like A'Shawn Robinson and Alex Anzalone as cogs in the wheel.
First-round pick Rueben Bain Jr. was one of the biggest stars in the draft and immediately transforms a Bucs pass rush that only had one legitimate piece in YaYa Diaby. But the Buccaneers also made a number of smart picks later on in the draft class, including potential defensive back sleeper Keionte Scott, who was a teammate of Bain's at Miami.
The real wild card might be second round pick Josiah Trotter. Blessed with an incredible NFL pedigree and the son of Philadelphia Eagles legendary middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, Josiah is every bit the thumper his father was and a hard nosed football player with real leadership chops. But after the Buccaneers faithful got their hopes up for Texas Tech alumn Jacob Rodriguez, the most productive inside linebacker in college football last season, only to watch the Miami Dolphins steal him away, Trotter feels like a consolation prize.
Todd Bowles isn't worried about Josiah Trotter
One of the big marks against Trotter is his work in coverage, which troubles the Tampa Bay Buccaneers crowd, given now retired legend Lavonte David was one of the best three down linebackers of his generation - and the Buccaneers don't have a true top three round guy in the side anymore.
But head coach Todd Bowles is here to tell Buccaneers fans not to worry and that while nobody will be mistaking Josiah Trotter for a world class cover linebacker like Derrick Brooks (yeah no duh), Trotter can hold his own in coverage.
Bowles told Bucs fans, via Joe Bucs Fan, “I mean, he’s not Derrick Brooks or Lavonte David,” Bowles began. “That’s not his style, but he CAN cover. [Missouri] never asked him to cover. I’ve seen him cover before. I’ve seen him work out, probably in high school, just by default [by] being at a place at the right time. But, you know, he’s a very capable cover guy. He’s a good 4.6 [speed], this guy. And he can hold his own and he understands angles. And I’m not worried.”
Maybe Bowles's ball knowledge isn't THE thing that will put Buccaneers fans at ease about Trotter, but he is the football coach. And if he isn't concerned about Trotter and likes his speed and diagnosis skills in terms of reading how to approach players in the passing game, then, for now, Bucs fans shouldn't be either. Sure, he's no Rodriguez, but, well, Bucs fans can't sit there and say Trotter is worse either. He's a very good linebacker prospect, too.
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