Mike Macdonald Brings Super Bowl Pedigree to LB Search, and Josiah Trotter Is Getting a Close Look

The Seahawks just won a championship, and now they're hunting for the next piece to keep that defense rolling. Mike Macdonald orchestrated one of the most dominant defensive performances in Super Bowl history during Super Bowl LX, making Drake Maye and the New England Patriots offense look completely lost all game. That's the standard Macdonald sets. That's the standard Seattle now expects.

So when it comes to finding the next linebacker to plug into this system, the Seahawks aren't messing around. On Saturday, they brought in Missouri's Josiah Trotter for a top 30 visit, signaling serious interest in a guy who's been turning heads on the draft circuit.

Who Is Josiah Trotter?

This kid comes from serious football pedigree. His dad is Jeremiah Trotter, an All-Pro linebacker who spent 11 seasons in the NFL with eight of those years anchoring the Philadelphia Eagles defense. Even better for the Seahawks' perspective, Josiah's brother, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., has been playing linebacker for the Eagles for the past two years, so this family knows how to dominate the middle of the field.

Josiah is expected to go higher in the draft than his brother did. Jeremiah Jr. went in the fifth round of the 2024 draft out of Clemson, but scouts project Josiah as a much earlier pick. NFL.com's Lance Zierlein called him a "productive, long-time starter in the middle," which is exactly what you want to hear about a defensive prospect. The guy has high football IQ, strong leadership on and off the field, and all the tools to excel in Macdonald's scheme.

There's one knock: coverage skills need work. But that's something Seattle knows how to scheme around, and frankly, it's a minor issue when you're talking about a guy who can anchor your defense.

Seattle's LB Priority Is Real

Linebacker depth is definitely on Macdonald's draft board. Since taking over in 2024, Seattle has only drafted one linebacker: Tyrice Knight out of Texas El-Paso in the fourth round two years ago. That's not a lot of investment in a position group that matters, so expect the Seahawks to add bodies at the position during the upcoming draft. Trotter's visit says they're serious about finding the right fit.

The Seahawks have a championship defense and championship expectations now. Watching how they evaluate Trotter on Saturday tells you everything about where their priorities lie.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.