NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds After Draft: Who’s the New Favorite?

• David Bailey is the new NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite after going No. 2 to the Jets
• Several first-round landing spots caused major movement on the DROY odds board Thursday night
• See the updated Defensive Rookie of the Year odds below, plus the biggest movers and best value bet

The first round of the NFL Draft is in the books, and the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds have already shifted. David Bailey’s landing spot in New York pushed him past Rueben Bain Jr. as the new favorite, while several other names saw notable movement based on where they ended up Thursday night in Pittsburgh.

Here’s a look at the updated odds compared to where they stood before the draft, plus the biggest movers and my favorite value play.

Updated DROY Odds After Round 1

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Pre-draft odds as of April 22. Current odds updated after Round 1. Grab the FanDuel promo code before placing any NFL futures bets.

Bailey Takes Over as DROY Favorite

Bailey went from +550 to +440 after the Jets took him at No. 2 overall. He was the most productive pass rusher in the class with 14.5 sacks in 2025, and he’s walking into a New York defense that finished 31st in the NFL in sacks. The opportunity for immediate production is about as good as it gets.

Bain, who was co-favorite before the draft at +550, drifted to +600 after slipping to No. 15. He was a consensus top-10 talent who fell to Tampa Bay, and the later pick cost him the top spot. Caleb Downs moved the other direction, tightening from +650 to +600 after Dallas traded up to grab him at No. 11.

Biggest DROY Odds Movers

The biggest mover on the board is Mansoor Delane, who jumped from +1000 to +750 after the Chiefs traded up from No. 9 to No. 6 to get him. Kansas City gutted their cornerback room this offseason, and Delane should step into a starting role from Week 1.

Jacob Rodriguez (+3500 to +2200) and D’Angelo Ponds (+3000 to +2200) both saw big moves despite not going in Round 1. Their landing spots on Day 2 could push those numbers even further.

On the flip side, Dillon Thieneman drifted from +1200 to +1400 after going No. 25 to the Bears. No safety has won the award since 1990, and that trend is hard to bet against.

KALSHI TRADING

Offer

T&Cs

Trade at Kalshi & Get a $10 bonus when you sign up today!

Must be 18+ years or older & residing in the United States. Other Terms & Conditions may apply.

LOCK IN PROMO

CODE: DIME

CODE: DIME

SIGNUP TODAY

GET A $10
BONUS

GET OFFER

DROY Value Bet: Mansoor Delane

• Mansoor Delane (+750 at FanDuel)

The price already shortened from +1000, but Delane at +750 is still the best value on this board. The Chiefs traded up to get him, and you don’t burn draft capital on a guy you plan to redshirt.

He allowed just a 31.3 passer rating when targeted last season at LSU and ran a 4.38 at the combine. Kansas City needs a lockdown corner yesterday, and Delane is that guy.

The last cornerback to win DROY was Sauce Gardner in 2022, who took home 96.8% of the vote after leading the NFL with 20 passes defended. Delane has that kind of ceiling, and the AFC West is loaded with elite receiving talent to test him against every week.

Last 5 Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners

Pass rushers and edge defenders have won five of the last seven DROY awards, which is why Bailey at +440 makes sense as the favorite. But the value at that price is thin. Delane at +750 gives you a first-round corner that the Chiefs traded up to get, in a premier defensive scheme with an immediate starting job. I’d rather bet on that than lay short odds on any edge rusher right now.

These odds will continue to shift through Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday. Check back for updates as more landing spots are finalized and the NFL win totals start to adjust.