Mizzou’s Zion Young, Josiah Trotter selected with back-to-back picks in NFL Draft
By David Wasson
Published:
The Missouri Tigers went back-to-back on Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, as defensive end Zion Young and linebacker Josiah Trotter were selected with the No. 45 and No. 46 picks, respectively.
Young was taken by the Baltimore Ravens, while his teammate Trotter was taken by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The 6-foot-6, 262-pound Young earned first-team all-SEC honors in 2025, lining up primarily in a three-point stance but also excelling as a stand-up edge rusher. A 2024 transfer to Mizzou after two seasons at Michigan State, Young recorded 20 solo tackles and 6.5 sacks – both personal single-season highs – as a senior in 2025. He finishes his collegiate career with 50 solo tackles, 28.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks and a fumble return for a touchdown.
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The 6-foot-2, 237-pound Trotter was Mizzou’s leading tackler in his lone season as a Tiger after transferring from West Virginia – recording 43 solo stops and 84 total tackles along with 13 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Young is expected to bookend Trey Hendrickson on Baltimore’s defensive line, while Trotter is a hopeful long-term solution for the retired Lavonte David in Tampa Bay.
Young and Trotter were the first two Mizzou players off the 2026 draft board and 14th and 15th SEC players selected to that point.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
