Week 18 can bring a lot of emotions for NFL players. For some, it could be the disappointment of a once-promising season, for others, it can be the lone opportunity for a young player to gain favor in their organization for the following season.
For Jeremiah Trotter Jr., the son of former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, the second-year linebacker made his second career start in Week 18 during the Eagles' regular-season finale loss to the Washington Commanders. Trotter put together a 12-tackle game, four stops, three pressures, two quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss during his Week 18 performance, setting career highs while solidifying his place with the team for the foreseeable future.
Trotter is in the second year of his rookie deal and has mostly been a special teams piece for the organization since being drafted in the fifth round in 2024. Trotter, despite limited opportunities, has provided plenty of depth and skill at the linebacker position for Philadelphia, behind Nakobe Dean, Jihaad Campbell, and Zack Baun. While it's unlikely Trotter will see extended defensive reps during the Eagles' playoff push in 2025-26, he clearly has made Vic Fangio feel better if any of the starters go down due to injury.
Jeremiah Trotter Jr. made some noise with his Week 18 performance
Trotter not only has validated the investment the Eagles have made, but also could have leveraged himself as a trade piece if needed. The linebacker is due just over one million dollars next season and could be traded to a linebacker-needy team that needs a player with high upside and a team-friendly price tag for two more seasons. Trotter could bring instant value to another NFL team, while freeing up a little bit of money for general manager Howie Roseman as well.
If Philadelphia did trade Trotter, they could rely on Smael Mondon and/or Chance Campbell to fill the void of their reserve linebacker. Both players are due small dollar amounts, with Campbell most likely being on a futures deal.
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For Trotter, while the future may be unclear, what is clear is that he is a competent NFL linebacker. Coming from a football family, the 2024 fifth-round pick can make an impact and contribute in the NFL to many organizations moving forward, and could find himself making a nice living for the foreseeable future.