Josiah Trotter LB Missouri |
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

• Arm length measures short for the position, which could limit block control at the next level.
• Lacks sideline-to-sideline range; more explosive in short areas than fast across the field.
• Coverage is a clear weakness; slow to recognize routes and gets stacked by athletic tight ends.
• Lateral movement can look labored when asked to mirror receivers or backs in space.
• The 2023 lower leg injury that cost a full season will draw medical attention before boards finalize.

Scouting Report: Summary

Trotter plays with a physicality that shows up immediately on tape. He trusts his reads, triggers downhill without hesitation, and meets ball carriers with force at the point of contact. The run defense ability is his strongest trait by a wide margin, and his processing speed against zone and gap schemes keeps him a step ahead of blockers at the second level. The South Carolina game, where Missouri held the Gamecocks to negative rushing yards, is the best illustration of what he does well.

The coverage is the issue, and it is not a small one. He is slow to read route combinations, and athletic tight ends can stack him without much trouble. Asking him to match up in man coverage or play in space on passing downs will be a problem at the NFL level. That limits him to an early-down role in most defenses. He fits best as an inside linebacker in an odd front where he can play between the tackles, control his gap, and let his physicality work in tight spaces. The pass rush upside adds value if a coordinator is willing to use him on designed pressures.

The floor is a quality run defender who contributes on first and second down and gives a defense a physical presence in the middle. The ceiling depends on whether the coverage can improve enough to keep him on the field in passing situations. He is only 20 years old with just two full college seasons, so there is time.