The Eagles traded up in the fifth round to select linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. with the 155th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Eagles sent Indianapolis a 2024 fifth-round pick (No. 164 overall) and a 2024 sixth-round pick (No. 201 overall) in exchange for the 155th overall pick to bring Trotter Jr. home!

"It was a great moment," said Trotter Jr. about being drafted by his hometown team. "It's something that I've worked to try to be at and try to accomplish my whole life. I'm extremely grateful, I thank God; I thank the Eagles organization for giving me that chance and having that opportunity. I'm just ready to get to work now."

Born and raised in the Philadelphia area, Trotter Jr. is the son of Eagles Hall of Fame linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.

Trotter, also known as the "Axe Man," was a fan favorite in Philadelphia, making four Pro Bowls in three stints in Midnight Green. Throughout the entire draft process, the Trotters were hoping Jeremiah Jr. would end up where his dad is viewed as a legend.

"Jeremiah grew up a huge Eagles fan, obviously, and to get that call from Mr. Lurie (Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie) and Howie (Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman), it's truly a blessing," the elder Trotter said on a phone call with PhiladelphiaEagles.com following his son being selected.

"I know the type of legacy he left with this organization and the fans, how they treat him," Trotter Jr. said. "It definitely means a lot to be able to play, come in, and continue that legacy, and help out the team any way I possibly can."

After attending Saint Joseph's Prep in North Philadelphia, Trotter Jr. (6-0, 228 pounds) spent three seasons at Clemson where he showed signs of his dad's physicality and football IQ, but also created his own style that led to sustained success in the ACC.

In 2023, Trotter Jr. was one of the most productive inside linebackers in the nation. He led his team in tackles (88) and tackles for loss (15.0) and was tied for the team lead with 5.5 sacks. This was his second consecutive season leading Clemson in tackles (92), tackles for loss (13.5), and sacks (6.5).

Per Pro Football Focus, Trotter Jr.'s 92.0 coverage grade since 2022 is the best among FBS linebackers with a minimum 600 coverage snaps. He was also one of three Power 5 players to have 10+ sacks, 4+ interceptions, 3+ forced fumbles, and 2+ pick-sixes in a two-season span since 1996 (UCLA's Akeem Ayers and UNC's Julius Peppers).

Trotter Jr. was named a first-team All-ACC player in 2023 after being an honorable mention the season before. The 21-year-old is a two-time second-team Associated Press All-American.

Stats

39 games (26 starts)

195 Tackles

29.5 Tackles for loss

13.0 sacks

4 Interceptions

2 Interceptions returned for touchdowns

11 Passes defended

3 Forced fumbles

Accolades

2023 2nd-Team AP All-American

2023: 1st-Team All-ACC

2022: 2nd-Team AP All-American

2022: Honorable Mention All-ACC

What Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman said: I think, one, you have to stick to your board. We can't make up a grade on any player just because we like them.

I make a joke a lot of times. You know, the best person I know in the world is my wife, and I don't want her playing linebacker for us either.

I think for us, at the end of the day, you have to have a certain skill set to play at any position in the National Football League, and so we're looking for a skill set, and we're drafting players based on a skill set.

As much as you like those stories, and it's a great story without the ending, you know. We just started that story, but it's got to be skill set, and he has a skill set, and that's why we drafted him. He has a mentality. That's why we drafted him. We're looking forward to him being his own person and not having to walk in anyone's footsteps, but creating his own legacy."

What Director of Player Personnel Alan Wolking said: "This is another guy who has been on our radar for a long time. The guy is a five-star recruit, a two-time state champion here in Philly. He goes to Clemson and has the five-star billing, he's the number one recruit in their class that year, and so he has to live up to that. So over the last two seasons, he leads their team in basically all of the major defensive categories, and that defense is littered with good players, and he has just always answered the bell. He finds the football so well. Most of the time, as the ball starts to flow, he's stepping in time with the ball. There's not a delay or anything. There's an anticipatory element to his game where he either saw it on film or he just naturally flows. He's a guy that you'd say is a better football player than a tester. When you turn on the tape and watch him play football, you can see he was just born to do that. He's just natural at getting to the football."

Scouting Report

• Instinctive player who plays faster than he would time in the 40-yard dash because of how well he sees the game.

• Has a good feel for navigating through traffic and finding his way to the football.

• Pop on contact downhill when defeating blocks and striking ball carriers.

• Routinely got teammates lined up before the snap and known as one of the leaders on that defense.

• Good blitzer with 13 sacks to his name in just three seasons.

• High-effort player who constantly chases the football. Violent player on contact as a tackler.

Key Numbers

• According to PFF, Trotter's "average depth of tackle" occurred 2.42 yards away from the line of scrimmage, one of the lowest numbers in this class. This is a good representation of his abilities downhill, especially considering the number of plays he made in pursuit to offset it.

• According to PFF, opposing quarterbacks posted just a 70.2 passer rating when targeting him in coverage, which ranks in the 90th percentile amongst linebackers drafted in the last decade.