Historical NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds from Past Seasons

• Look back to historical NFL DROY odds from past seasons
• See which players won the award, what opening odds looked like, and how the futures changed each year
• Looking for this year’s NFL DROY odds?

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During the 2018 NFL season, I decided to start tracking and documenting the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year futures market. I have continued to do so every season since, capturing the DROY odds from the time they open, at key points of the offseason, after each week of the regular season, and right through to when the award is handed out. You can take a look back at each past season to see the DROY odds from that year, along with who won the award.

2025 Season | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018

2025 NFL DROY Odds

When odds opened, we saw Abdul Carter, Mason Graham, Jalon Walker, and Shemar Stewart listed as the top tier of contenders, but none of those players made any notable impact in their rookie seasons, and each closed the year with odds of 45-1 or longer to win the award. Instead, it was Carson Schwesinger, the first pick in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, who performed the best and took home the DROY award.

But it did take Schwesinger a long time to become one of the favorites, let alone the favorite to win the award. See how the odds shifted during the 2025-26 NFL season below.

It felt like on-field performance finally influenced the DROY odds after the halfway point of the season. Abdul Carter had remained the DROY favorite for so long in spite of having very little impact for the Giants defense. Even when Jihaad Campbell took over as the favorite briefly, he had not really done much to deserve it.

However, we finally saw Schwesinger, who recorded double-digit combined tackles in seven of his last eight games, listed as the favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after Week 10.

Neither Carter or Campbell were given the second-best odds at closing, as James Pearce Jr came on strong over the final stretch of the season, rising up the odds board.

The top NFL DROY contenders at closing were as follows:

1. Carson Schwesinger (-710 consensus odds)
2. James Pearce Jr (+435)
3. Nick Emmanwori (+2250)

These three players were joined by Xavier Watts and Abdul Carter as the finalists for the award.

And some more notes on past DROY odds movement:

• [November 11] Carson Schwesinger took over as the favorite after a Week 10 performance that included 10 combined tackles.
• [October 28] Jihaad Campbell’s reign as favorite lasted just one week, as Abdul Carter took back over as the DROY favorite after Week 8.
• [October 21] Jihaad Campbell took over as the new DROY favorite after Week 7.
• [August 15] Mike Green had been drawing praise in training camp and the early preseason, resulting in his DROY odds shortening from an average of +1500 to +1200
• [April 25] After being drafted by the Browns, Mason Graham saw his DROY odds fade from as short as +600 to +1075. Mykel Williams, on the other hand, saw his odds improve from +1500 to +875 after hearing his name called by the 49ers.
• [April 24] The presumed first defender to be taken in the NFL Draft, Abdul Carter, opened as the favorite to win NFL DROY. He was given slightly better odds than Mason Graham, Jalon Walker, and Shemar Stewart.

Top Contenders by Position

Top Contenders by Draft Round

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2024 NFL DROY Odds

The 2024-25 NFL season saw Jared Verse take home the Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. However, Verse was not the favorite when odds opened, and he was overtaken in the odds late in the season as well. You can see how the 2024 DROY odds changed throughout the season with notes on why below.

Even before knowing where any of these incoming rookie defenders would be playing for the 2024-25 NFL season, sportsbooks released odds on who would win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Former Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner, who was projected to be the first defensive player selected in the 2024 NFL Draft odds, opened as the favorite. Though Turner was not the first defensive player selected, as Laiatu Latu was the first defender off the board, the new Vikings edge-rusher remained the NFL DROY favorite after the draft, seeing his odds improve drastically after the first round, and was still the favorite after Week 1.

That changed after Week 2, though, as Rams edge-rusher Jared Verse became the new DROY favorite. Verse held that title until after Week 15 games, when Quinyon Mitchell became the new favorite. That only lasted one week, though, as Verse was back to being the favorite following Week 16.

Jared Verse was the favorite to win the NFL DROY award at closing with -1000 odds. Based on those odds, Verse had a 90.9% chance to win the award.

After Verse in the closing odds, we had Quinyon Mitchell (+900), Chop Robinson (+4000), Braden Fiske (+5000), and Cooper DeJean (+10000) rounding out the top five contenders to win NFL DROY for the 2024-25 NFL season.

And some more notes on the 2024 DROY odds movement:

• [December 23] Quinyon Mitchell’s reign as the NFL DROY favorite only lasted one week, as his odds worsened from +110 to +400 after the Commanders receivers beat him often in Week 16. Jared Verse took back over as the favorite entering Week 17.
• [December 17] The combo of the Eagles defense continuing to play well, and Jared Verse not recording a sack in five straight games resulted in Quinyon Mitchell becoming the new DROY favorite following Week 15.
• [November 26] It was a little odd seeing Rams DL Braden Fiske’s DROY odds improve from +2550 to +900 after they gave up 314 rushing yards and 37 points in Week 12. But Fiske did record a sack in the game, which marked his second straight game with at least a sack, and a total of five sacks over his past four games (from Weeks 9-12). Following Week 12, the Rams had two of the top three contenders for NFL DROY, with Jared Verse still being the favorite at this point.
• [November 19] After a great game against the Commanders in Week 11, Quinyon Mitchell’s DROY odds improved from +1880 to +250, which were second-best on the board at this time.
• [November 5] Jared Verse became an odds-on favorite to win NFL DROY after Week 9, where he recorded another sack and was consistently providing pressure on the QB. Verse was the favorite prior to this, but he saw his odds improve from +100 to -150.
• [October 15] With Kamari Lassiter’s scapula injury expected to sideline him a few more weeks, after he already missed Week 6, his DROY odds have faded from +683 to +1833.
• [September 24] Laiatu Latu moved from +925 to +542, the second-best odds, after recording his first career sack in Week 3 against the Bears.
• [September 17] Jared Verse took over as the NFL DROY favorite after a Week 2 performance that included seven tackles, three of which were for losses, and a forced fumble. Byron Murphy also turned in a solid performance in Week 2, moving from +1200 odds to +700, which were third-best at this time. Kamari Lassiter saw major movement as well, going from +5000 to +1425 after recording his first career interception against the Bears.
• [September 10] Laiatu Latu was not able to hold onto the title of NFL DROY favorite for very long, as Dallas Turner has taken back over after recording three tackles and a sack in Minnesota’s dominant win over the Giants.
• [September 3] With Jared Verse preparing for a major role in the Rams defense, he saw his DROY odds improve from +1050 to +800 ahead of Week 1. We also saw Laiatu Latu overtake Dallas Turner as the favorite to win the award.
• [April 25] Though the NFL DROY odds did not see as drastic movement as the OROY did after the first round of the NFL Draft, there were some notable changes. Dallas Turner, who was already the favorite prior to the draft, saw his odds improve from as long as +850 to as short as +400, making him a pretty heavy favorite. Fellow pass-rusher Chop Robinson’s odds went from +2000 to as short as +1300 after being drafted by the Dolphins. Unless one of the other top contenders really falls in the draft, I don’t think we’ll see any other major moves coming from the rest of the draft.
• [April 19] DraftKings was the first to open NFL DROY odds for the 2024-25 season, and they listed Dallas Turner as their favorite. Turner’s +700 odds were slightly better than Laiatu Latu’s +750 odds, which were the second-best at opening. Quinyon Mitchell, who is projected to be the first cornerback selected in the draft, had the best opening odds among non-edge rushers.

Top 2024 DROY Contenders at Each Position

Top 2024 DROY Contenders by Draft Round

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2023 NFL DROY Odds

I tracked the odds to win the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award throughout the entire 2023-24 NFL season, including the offseason and each week of the season. Will Anderson was named NFL DROY for the 2023-24 NFL season, but the 2023 DROY odds favored a different player when they closed. See which player sportsbooks favored over Anderson, as well as how the odds changed all season, below.

Following Week 1, Jalen Carter took over as the new NFL DROY favorite and the Eagles defender had the best odds to win the award the last time they were made available, which was prior to Week 18 kicking off. However, Carter did not win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award for the 2023-24 NFL season, in spite of his -725 odds to do so entering Week 18.

Will Anderson, the first defensive player selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, opened as the favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and went onto win the award at the NFL Honors on February 8. Anderson was the favorite before the draft as well, which included a 24-hour period where Tyree Wilson was believed to be the first defensive player selected.

This award was certainly the biggest surprise, as Carter’s odds were as short as -20000 following Week 16. Ultimately, voters shied away from voting for the big defensive tackle as the Eagles defense was getting torched late in the season.

The NFL DROY finalists were: Jalen Carter, Will Anderson, Joey Porter Jr, Devon Witherspoon, and Kobie Turner.

And some more notes on past DROY odds movement:

• [January 25] Jalen Carter, Will Anderson, Joey Porter Jr, Devon Witherspoon, and Kobie Turner have been announced as the NFL DROY finalists.
• [October 9] Jalen Carter has become the odds-on favorite to win NFL DROY. (This means his odds are shorter than even; also read as, he now has negative odds.) The big defensive lineman’s odds improved from +100 to -175 after recording two sacks against the Rams in Week 5. While on bye, Devon Witherspoon’s odds continued improving, going from +2000 to +300, which are the second-best odds at this time.
• [September 25] Christian Gonzalez has seen his odds improve from +1500 to +900 after Week 3, where his Patriots held the Jets to 157 yards through the air. A big factor in that was the incompetence of Zach Wilson, but Gonzalez’ efforts to hold Tyreek Hill to just 40 yards in Week 2 look even more impressive after Hill torched the Broncos this past weekend.
• [September 12] Since Week 1 ended, Jalen Carter has overtaken Will Anderson as the favorite to win NFL DROY. DraftKings has reported that more money and bets have come in on Carter to win DROY than any other player after Week 1. In a span of 24 hours, all thanks to money coming in, Carter’s odds have improved from +550 to +300.
• [September 11] Jalen Carter closed the gap between him and Will Anderson, who is the NFL DROY favorite, after Week 1. Carter recorded an NFL-high eight pressures (among DTs) to go with a sack against the Patriots. His odds improved from +700 to +550. The fifth-overall pick, Devon Witherspoon, saw his odds fade from +1000 to +2000 after being inactive Week 1 due to a nagging hamstring injury.
• [September 5] After a strong preseason, Patriots Keion White has seen his NFL DROY odds improve from +4500 to +3500. The rookie edge rusher projects to see a lot of snaps right away in New England.
• [April 29] Emmanuel Forbes has seen the biggest post-draft odds movement, seeing his DROY odds go from +2500 to +1400 after being selected by the Washington Commanders in the first round.
• [April 21] Just under a week prior to the NFL Draft, many sports betting apps have opened NFL DROY odds, with Will Anderson listed as the favorite at +320 odds. Jalen Carter and Tyree Wilson have the next-best odds at +600.

Top 2023 DROY Contenders at Each Position

Top 2023 DROY Contenders by Draft Round

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2022 NFL DROY Odds

Look back at the odds to win the 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award that I tracked throughout the 2022-23 NFL season. Sauce Gardner was a heavy favorite to win the award starting around midseason and the Jets corner never looked back. Look back at Gardner’s opening odds, along with all other top contenders, and see how the 2022 NFL DROY odds changed below.

The 2022 NFL Draft saw loads of edge rushers taken early, and they were the players we saw dominating the top of the odds to win NFL DROY following the draft.

Aidan Hutchinson had separated himself from the pack after the first couple weeks of the season. He was joined by Jaguars’ linebacker Devin Lloyd atop the board after Week 3. Lloyd took over as the favorite following Week 4. But he was displaced by Ahmad Gardner after Week 6. The fact that sportsbooks didn’t reopen NFL DROY odds after Week 17, when every other player award outside of NFL DPOY did, suggests they felt Sauce was too heavy of a favorite.

Closing 2022 NFL DROY Odds

*Odds as of December 27

Sauce Gardner had basically locked up the NFL DROY award by early December. The closing DROY odds had the Jets CB listed at -1200 with Aidan Hutchinson next at +800.

And some more notes on past odds movement:

• [November 8] After picking off Josh Allen and helping the Jets shutdown the Bills’ lethal passing attack in Week 9, Ahmad Gardner has now become an odds-on favorite to win NFL DROY. His odds improved from +300 to -110.
• [October 31] Jalen Pitre saw his odds improve from +1400 to +800 after a Week 8 performance where he logged two tackles for loss and six total tackles. The Texans’ safety now has the third-best odds to win the award.
• [October 24] Sauce Gardner remains the favorite to win NFL DROY after shutting down Courtland Sutton in Week 7, but fellow corner Tariq Woolen is nipping at his heels. Woolen’s odds improved from +800 to +350 following Seattle’s upset win over the Chargers in Week 7.
• [October 18] After Week 6, Sauce Gardner is the new favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Gardner had two passes defensed in the Jets upset over the Packers. His odds improved from +600 to +300.
• [October 10] Ahmad Gardner has seen his NFL DROY odds improve from +2500 to +600 after pulling down his first career interception as his Jets upset the Dolphins in Week 5. Gardner now has the second-best odds on the board behind only Devin Lloyd.
• [October 3] Devin Lloyd continues to be all over the field for the Jaguars defense, racking up 14 total tackles in Week 4. The result is Lloyd taking over as the favorite to win NFL DROY. His odds improved from +400 to +200, while Aidan Hutchinson’s faded from +350 to +600 after a quiet game from the rookie edge-rusher where his Lions got roasted for 48 points by the Seahawks.
• [September 27] After recording an interception for the second straight week, Devin Lloyd has seen his NFL DROY odds improve from +2000 to +400. The Jaguars’ linebacker is just slightly behind the favorite Aidan Hutchinson, who is given +350 odds after Week 3.
• [September 19] After a three-sack day against the Commanders in Week 2, Aidan Hutchinson has become the heavy favorite to win NFL DROY. Hutchinson’s NFL DROY odds improved from +700 to +250, with the next player on the board given +1000 odds.
• [September 12] First-overall pick Travon Walker recorded a sack and four tackles in his NFL debut, while Aidan Hutchinson, who entered Week 1 as the favorite, was pretty quiet in his first game. The result is the two players now listed as co-favorites to win NFL DROY.
• [September 7] With Kayvon Thibodeaux, the defender with the second-best odds to win NFL DROY, expected to miss Week 1, and potentially another game or two, Aidan Hutchinson has really broken away from the field in the latest NFL DROY odds ahead of kickoff.
• [April 28] Although he was not the first-overall pick, Aidan Hutchinson is the favorite to win NFL DROY. His odds have improved from +600 to +400 after being drafted second-overall by the Lions. Kayvon Thibodeaux has seen his DROY odds move from +1000 to +450, the second-best on the board, after going fifth-overall to the Giants. The first-overall pick, Travon Walker, moved from +1000 to +550.
• [April 12] Even though we are still a couple weeks from the 2022 NFL Draft, some sportsbooks have already opened their NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds. Aidan Hutchinson, who is projected to be the first-overall pick in the NFL Draft odds, and Kyle Hamilton have opened as the co-favorites to win DROY.

Top 2022 DROY Contenders at Each Position

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2021 NFL DROY Odds

I tracked the odds to win the 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year throughout the 2021-22 NFL season. It wasn’t much of a race for very long, but a few defenders found themselves with relatively short odds alongside Micah Parsons for small bits of the season. You can see how the 2021 NFL DROY odds changed (or didn’t change) in the graphs below.

The race for the NFL DROY award wrapped up pretty early in the 2021-22 NFL season, as Micah Parsons completely ran away with it. We did not see any odds available since the week of December 22, which was prior to Week 16. Parsons closed as a wild -10000 favorite.

The NFL DROY award was handed out to Micah Parsons at the NFL Honors on Thursday, February 10.

• [February 10] Micah Parsons has been named the 2021-22 unanimous NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year at the NFL Honors.
• [December 29] Sportsbooks have not even reopened NFL DROY odds after Week 16, essentially saying Micah Parsons has wrapped this one up.
• [December 20] Patrick Surtain II had a really nice game in Week 15, helping the Broncos hold Joe Burrow to 157 yards through the air, and Ja’Marr Chase to just one catch for three yards. Though Surtain saw his odds improve from +1000 to +800, Micah Parsons’ NFL DROY odds are still at -10000.

Closing 2021 NFL DROY Odds

*Odds as of December 22

And some more notes on past odds movement:

• [December 13] Sportsbooks are saying Micah Parsons has NFL DROY wrapped up, as his odds move from -2000 to -10000. The Cowboys’ rookie defender recorded two more sacks in Week 14, bringing his season total to 12 and giving him 9.5 sacks in his last six games.
• [December 7] Micah Parsons’ NFL DROY odds have moved from -500 to -2000 after Week 13. The first-round pick recorded another sack, bringing his season total up to 10.
• [November 29] Patrick Surtain II had a very strong Week 12, recording two interceptions and taking one of them to the house for six. The Broncos corner saw his NFL DROY odds improve from +1000 to +750, the second-best odds on the board. Micah Parsons continues to grow into an even heavier odds-on favorite, though.
• [November 22] After recording two sacks and a forced fumble against the Chiefs in Week 11, Cowboys rookie linebacker Micah Parsons is now an even heavier odds-on favorite to win NFL DROY. His odds improved from -150 to -400 after Sunday.
• [November 15] Micah Parsons’ odds grew even shorter (from -120 to -150) thanks to a six-tackle, one-sack performance in Dallas’ 43-3 embarrassment of the Falcons.
• [November 8] Micah Parsons has now moved to the odds-on favorite to win 2021 NFL DROY. The Cowboys defender was one of the few bright spots in their Week 9 game against the Broncos. He recorded 2.5 sacks and ten total tackles.
• [November 1] Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons continued to impress in Week 8, recording 10 solo tackles, four of which were for a loss. The disruptive, do-it-all defender is now nearing even money to win NFL DROY. Fellow rookie inside linebackers Jamin Davis and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah have seen their NFL DROY odds fade significantly over the last couple of weeks.
• [October 25] Micah Parson’s NFL DROY odds continued to improve while he enjoyed a bye week. Azeez Ojulari saw the biggest movement after Week 7, thanks to his 2.5 sacks against the Panthers. Ojulari went from as long as +2500 to as short as +1000 now.
• [October 19] Patrick Surtain’s NFL DROY odds took a big hit after Denver gave up 340 passing yards to the Raiders in Week 6, the second time in three weeks they’ve allowed more than 300 through the air. Surtain still remains a top three contender, but is well behind the favorite, Micah Parsons.
• [October 11] Micah Parsons is back to being the NFL DROY favorite. Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa has seen his odds improve significantly, as he’s just outside of the top ten contenders.
• [October 4] Some sportsbooks are listing Micah Parsons as the favorite to win NFL DROY after Week 4, while others list the Cowboys linebacker as the co-favorite alongside Patrick Surtain II. Parsons is seeing his NFL DROY odds improve after recording another sack in Week 4.
• [September 27] Chargers corner Asante Samuel Jr has seen his NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds improve from an average of +3400 to as short as +1200 at some sportsbooks after recording an interception in Week 2 and 3. Patrick Surtain II remains the favorite to win NFL DROY, however.
• [September 21] After recording his first career interception in Week 2, Patrick Surtain II is now the favorite to win NFL DROY. Kwity Paye and Jaelan Phillips have seen their odds worsen as neither has recorded a sack through their first two games.
• [September 14] Despite only playing 26% of the Broncos defensive snaps in Week 1, Patrick Surtain II is now listed as the co-favorite, alongside Micah Parsons, to win NFL DROY. Surtain will see plenty of extra snaps moving forward, however, after Denver placed Ronald Darby on the IR.
• [September 8] Buccaneers rookie Joe Tryon has seen his NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds improve from +3600 to +2350 heading into the season, vaulting him into the top ten contenders.
• [August 16] One of the surprises of the first-round of the 2021 NFL Draft was the New Orleans Saints selecting Payton Turner with the 28th pick. The defensive end opened with NFL DROY odds of +10000 after being drafted – he did not have odds prior. However, Turner has been turning heads at Saints camp and has seen his odds improve to +2500. Fellow rookies Patrick Surtain and Jamin Davis continue to impress in the preseason and have both seen their odds improve. Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons is seeing his odds worsen a little, but remains the favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year.
• [June 17] With mandatory training camps opening, Jamin Davis has seen his NFL DROY odds improve from an average of +1525 to +925, and now has the fourth-best average odds.
• [May 3] Entering a very crowded Cowboys linebacking corps, who already added Micah Parsons in the first round, Jabril Cox saw his NFL DROY odds fall from +3450 to +4075. Joe Tryon, Tampa Bay’s first-round pick, saw his odds improve from +4375 to +3875.
• [April 30] Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s NFL DROY odds fell significantly after not being drafted in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, going from the second-best odds at +700 all the way to +2000 at some sportsbooks. Azeez Ojulari also suffered the same fate, not hearing his name called on the first night, resulting in his odds fading from +1300 to an average of +2200. Caleb Farley did come off the board in the first round, but still saw his odds fall from +1200 to +2100 after being taken by the Titans at 22nd-overall. Zaven Collins is the player who benefited most from his new team, seeing his odds improve from +1400 to +1100 after being selected by the Cardinals.
• [April 23] Micah Parsons has opened as the favorite to win 2021 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Penn State product is not expected to be the first defensive player taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he is expected to make plays from Day 1 for the team who does draft him. The two players with the best odds are both inside linebackers who can play sideline to sideline. Patrick Surtain II is favored to be the first defensive player taken, and just cracks the top five in opening DROY odds.

Top 2021 DROY Contenders at Each Position

Top 2021 DROY Contenders by Draft Round

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2020 NFL DROY Odds

I tracked the odds to win the 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award all season. Chase Young opened as the heavy favorite in the 2020 NFL DROY odds and did go on to win the award. However, there was a brief period during the season where Young was not the favorite. Check out the 2020 NFL DROY odds to see which player overtook Young as the favorite, and see how the odds changed throughout the 2020-21 NFL season.

• [February 6, 2021] Chase Young has won the 2020 NFL DROY award
• [December 22] Washington’s Chase Young has seen his NFL DROY odds improve to -375, the best odds he’s seen at any point this season, after Week 15
• [December 15] Chase Young scored the first touchdown of his career in Week 14, scooping a fumble and taking it to the house. His odds to win NFL DROY improved from -105 to -185, his best odds of the season
• [December 9] Following a Week 13 win over the Steelers, Washington’s Chase Young is again the odds-on favorite to win NFL DROY. He had been the odds-on favorite for one week in early October
• [December 3] After Jeremy Chinn scored touchdowns on back-to-back defensive plays in Week 12, the Panthers safety has seen his NFL DROY odds improve from +900 to +230, the second-best odds behind only Chase Young
• [November 24] Chase Young is back to being the NFL DROY favorite, but Antoine Winfield Jr and Julian Blackmon continue to see their odds improve; Blackmon was the player responsible for forcing the Marquez Valdes-Scantling fumble in overtime to set the Colts up to win the game
• [November 18] For the first time this season, Chase Young is not the favorite to win NFL DROY. The Washington edge rusher only has one sack in his last five games. While the Ravens’ rookie has struggled a little as of late, he’s filled up the stat sheet more than Young
• [November 10] Week 9 caused very little movement in NFL DROY odds; Colts safety Julian Blackmon’s odds improved from +700 to +600, and a handful of names were removed from the board
• [November 4] Chase Young remains the favorite to win NFL DROY after we see our first set of odds since early October; Julian Blackmon is the biggest mover, who saw his odds improve from +10000 to +700
• [October 27] No sportsbook has updated their NFL DROY odds since October 6; this is likely due to the books either (a) feeling Chase Young has won the award already, or (b) don’t know how to handicap the field
• [October 6] Despite missing Week 4, Chase Young has become the odds-on favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
• [September 22] Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr’s DROY odds improved from +3800 to +1200, tied for third-best, after a Week 2 performance that included one sack, a forced fumble, and 11 combined tackles
• [September 15] Patrick Queen’s DROY odds improved from +1000 to +650, which ties him with Isaiah Simmons for the second-best odds, after an NFL debut that saw him all over the field; the Ravens linebacker recorded a sack, a forced fumble, and eight combined tackles in Week 1
• [September 9] Chase Young is the clear favorite to win NFL DROY ahead of Week 1, as his odds have reached a new best of +205
• [August 21] Defensive tackles Derrick Brown and Javon Kinlaw’s odds are moving in opposite directions; the Panthers DT has seen his odds improve from +2475 to +2050, while the 49ers DT has seen his odds fade from +2200 to +2525
• [June 16] Bengals linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither has seen his odds shorten from an average of +4550 to +3525; 49ers first-round pick Javon Kinlaw also saw his odds improve, moving from +2450 to +2200, the sixth-best in the league
• [April 27] AJ Epenesa saw his odds fade from +1150 (third-best) to +2400 after falling to the Bills in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft; Jordyn Brooks appeared on the board for the first time, given +2500 odds, after being drafted by the Seahawks in the first round
• [March 27] Chase Young has opened as the heavy favorite to win 2020 NFL DROY, despite the draft still being a month away

Closing 2020 NFL DROY Odds

*Odds updated December 22

Top 2020 DROY Contenders at Each Position

Top 2020 DROY Contenders by Draft Round

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2019 NFL DROY Odds

I tracked the odds to win the 2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award from the time they opened right until the honor was handed out to Nick Bosa. The defensive end opened as the favorite, but saw Devin White and Devin Bush overtake him in the 2019 NFL DROY odds before the season started. Look back at the 2019 NFL DROY odds to see how they changed throughout the season.

• [February 2] As expected, Nick Bosa was named 2019 NFL DROY
• [January 29] Odds to win NFL DROY have finally reopened, and Nick Bosa is listed as a heavy -5000 favorite
• [December 25] We’ve yet to see DROY odds open at any sportsbook since December 11
• [December 11] Bosa got even shorter after Week 14, improving from -350 to -450. His new odds give him an 81.8% chance to win DROY.
• [November 27] Nick Bosa’s DROY odds have hit a new season-best at -350 after tallying his eighth sack of the season against the Packers in Week 12
• [November 20] Week 11 resulted in no movement to DROY odds
• [November 13] Clelin Ferrell, coming off a 2.5-sack performance against the Chargers in Week 10, is the only player who saw any significant movement, as his odds improved from +5000 to +3000
• [November 6] Bosa continues to become a heavier favorite to win NFL DROY after Week 9
• [October 30] Nick Bosa has become the odds-on favorite to win DROY after recording 3.0 sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown against the Panthers in Week 8
• [October 23] Bosa is nearing even money to win 2019 NFL DROY after recording another sack in Week 7
• [October 16] Nick Bosa remains the favorite, but Devin Bush saw his odds shorten from +450 to +275 after an interception and fumble recovery in Week 6
• [October 9] With a dominant performance on MNF against the Browns in Week 5, including 2.0 sacks, Nick Bosa  is back to being a heavy favorite to win DROY, sporting his shortest odds of the season
• [October 2] Chase Winovich has seen his DROY odds improve from +3300 to +1400 after Week 4, when he recorded his third sack in as many games
• [September 25] After opening with average odds of +3000, Darnell Savage is now the favorite to win DROY
• [September 19] For the first time since July, Nick Bosa is the favorite to win the 2019 DROY award
• [September 11] After a strong performance in Week 1, Ed Oliver has jumped into the top four contenders for DROY
• [September 5] Josh Allen’s odds improved from +1380 to +853 thanks to an impressive preseason
• [August 16] Nick Bosa is no longer the favorite to win DROY, as he’s seen both Devin White and Devin Bush surpass him in average odds
• [July 10] Devin Bush’s odds got a lot shorter, moving from an average of +1276 to +751, and he’s now a top three contender for DROY
• [May 7] Devin White and Devin Bush, the top two ILBs selected in the draft, have both seen their odds get significantly shorter, while Ed Oliver saw his odds plummet from an average of +800 to +1150
• [May 1] 31 players have now been given odds to win 2019 NFL DROY, which is already more than last year
• [April 29] Nick Bosa has opened as the 2019 DROY favorite after being selected second overall by the San Francisco 49ers

Closing 2019 NFL DROY Odds

*Odds taken January 29; Follow the link in the table to see all available options

Seven of the first ten picks in the 2019 NFL Draft were defensive players, and 18 of the 32 players selected in the first round were defenders.

Top 2019 DROY Contenders at Each Position

Top 2019 DROY Contenders by Draft Round

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2018 NFL DROY Odds

Have a look back at the odds to win the 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Colts linebacker Darius Leonard took home the 2018 DROY, but was not seen as a favorite to start the season. See when sportsbooks started to buy into Leonard winning the award below.

The 2018 NFL Draft saw two defensive players selected in the top five: Denzel Ward (4th to the Browns) and Bradley Chubb (5th to the Broncos).

While both players made an impact with their respective teams, two other defenders taken later in the draft stood above the rest all season.

Darius Leonard was named the 2018 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year at the 2019 NFL Honors on February 2, edging out Derwin James.

Closing 2018 NFL DROY Odds

*Odds Taken December 26, 2018

Notable Movement in 2018 DROY Odds

• [01/20/19] None of our top online sports betting sites have released new odds following Week 17
• [12/26/18] The favorite has flipped again, as Leonard enters Week 17 as the odds-on favorite for DROY
• [12/12/18] Derwin James is again separating from the pack as the favorite for DROY
• [11/07/18] It only took one week for Leonard’s stranglehold on the award to loosen. Derwin James has overtaken him as the favorite.
• [10/31/18] Darius Leonard has emerged as the clear favorite to win the 2018 NFL DROY award, now sporting -280 odds. Derwin James and Denzel Ward appear to be the only players capable of making a move on him.
• [05/23/18] Bradley Chubb opened as the clear favorite to win 2018 NFL DROY. With Von Miller attracting all the attention on the opposite edge, Chubb will have plenty of one-on-one opportunities when rushing the passer.

Top 2018 DROY Contenders at Each Position

Leonard was the first ILB to win the award since Luke Kuechly in 2012. Had Derwin James claimed the honor, he would have been the first safety to do so since Mark Carrier in 1990.

Top 2018 DROY Contenders by Draft Round

Darius Leonard became the first player since DeMeco Ryans in 2006 to win DROY without being selected in the first round of the NFL Draft.