Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Eagles have traded up in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft to select linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. with the 155th overall pick. The Eagles exchanged a 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 164 overall) and a sixth-round pick (No. 201 overall) with Indianapolis for this selection.

Jeremiah Trotter Jr., who grew up in the Philadelphia area, expressed his excitement about joining his hometown team. "It was a great moment," he said. "It's something that I've worked to try to be at and try to accomplish my whole life." He acknowledged the support from God and the Eagles organization for this opportunity.

Trotter Jr. is following in the footsteps of his father, Jeremiah Trotter, an Eagles Hall of Fame linebacker known as the "Axe Man." The elder Trotter made four Pro Bowls during his time with the team and was delighted about his son's draft outcome. "Jeremiah grew up a huge Eagles fan, obviously," he noted after receiving news from Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman.

The younger Trotter has been building his own legacy at Clemson University where he displayed notable performance on the field. In 2023, he led Clemson's defense with significant statistics: 88 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and tied for leading sacks at 5.5.

Howie Roseman emphasized drafting players based on their skill set rather than stories or personal connections. "You have to have a certain skill set to play at any position in the National Football League," Roseman explained.

Alan Wolking highlighted Trotter Jr.'s impressive track record both as a high school star in Philadelphia and at Clemson, citing him as someone who naturally finds football opportunities during games.

Trotter Jr.'s scouting report underscores his instinctive gameplay and leadership on defense along with an aggressive approach when tackling opponents.

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