The Buffalo Bills currently hold the No. 26 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While the team has a total of seven picks throughout the draft, the Brass must use them wisely.
On the defensive side of the ball, the linebacker position is a point of concern. If the Bills decide to go in that direction, they could select this rugged linebacker as their "Day 2" pick.
Bills hosted powerful linebacker who can help defense now
The Bills met with Missouri's Josiah Trotter in early March in Buffalo, per Bills beat reporter Ryan Talbot. He could be the Bills' immediate answer. At 6-foot-2, 237 lbs, Trotter is a strong linebacker who mixes toughness with the IQ and discipline to play to the whistle.
He is a powerful, mean player with the potential to be one of the best run-stopping and pass-rushing linebackers on the blitz right away. At only 20 years old, he is one of the youngest prospects in the NFL Draft.
During that early March visit, head coach Joe Brady was talking about wanting players who fit his playing style and about "Putting the ball down." That means he wants his team to resemble a hard-nosed team that plays with physicality, and to have opponents afraid to play the Bills, no matter the score or the place.
Playing at Missouri
Trotter broke out in 2025 by recording 84 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and two sacks. He made his mark by stopping the run, earning a high performance grade of 89.2% per PFF, ranking 36th among over 800 college linebackers. He also earned First-Team All-SEC.
The high-powered linebacker would immediately fix the Bills' biggest area of improvement in run defense while also improving their pressure and sacks on QBs. Trotter tallied seven QB hurries with an 81.6 pass-rush grade, proving his disruptiveness when driving gaps.
Trotter's greatest need for improvement is in pass defense. He battles in man-to-man coverage, permitting a 108.6 passer rating when targeted, presenting a 47.9 grade.
He also missed the 2023 season due to a knee injury and had minor surgery. But it didn't seem to hurt his chances of making his "First-Team All-SEC" opportunity.
Ties to his famous family
Jeremiah Sr. was a four-time Pro Bowl winner with the Philadelphia Eagles, where Jeremiah Jr. now plays, and was drafted in the 5th round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He also won Super Bowl LIX with the team.
The Bills missed out on getting the older Trotter bro when Sean McDermott was the head coach. But now with Joe Brady and his new defensive scheme, they may have a better chance of grabbing Josiah, possibly with the 91st pick in the third round of the NFL draft.
Josiah's current NFL comparison is to the Chiefs' former linebacker Nick Bolton, a "Day 2" pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.