This year's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds remain wide open.
The defensive class from the 2024 NFL Draft is pretty weak, but that means there's some value to be had in DROY odds. I'll break down why Jared Verse is the current favorite and my best value pick below:
NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year Odds For 2024-25
Odds from FanDuel as of Oct. 23rd
The defensive class of the 2024 NFL Draft was as weak as we've seen in a while. The first defender didn't come off the board until pick 15 (Latu), meaning this is a great year to target some value in DROY odds.
DPOY Pick: Jared Verse (+170)
It'll be impossible for the Rams to replace Aaron Donald, but Jared Verse is doing a damn good job. The rookie defensive lineman has 16 solo tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble in his first six NFL games. Verse also has a great 79.6 PFF grade, ranking out as an above-average run and pass defender.
If the Rams keep letting him get after the quarterback, I think Verse has as good of a shot as any other top contender to take home the DROY.
DPOY Pick: Evan Williams (+1900)
This is great, great, great, great value. I can't stress enough how good Williams has been. Alongside Xavier McKinney, Williams forms arguably the best safety tandem in football for the Packers.
He's got an interception, defended three passes, forced a fumble, and racked up a tackle for loss. On the surface, those stats aren't that impressive, but Williams has also been easily PFF's highest graded rookie (offense or defense) so far this season.
His 89.4 PFF grade is ahead of Brock Bowers and Jayden Daniels (the next-highest graded rooks) and well ahead DB Andru Phillips (83.3), the next-best defensive rookie.
Last 10 Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners
*now the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Charges and St. Louis Rams, respectively.
You’ll probably recognize every name on this list – many are still making problems for offenses across the league. These players joined their squad’s defense and immediately gave it a level up, contributing monstrous sacks, stunning interceptions, and shutdown coverage across the field.
Aaron Donald and Nick Bosa went on to win Defensive Player of the Year only a few years after receiving this honor, and our friends at the top of the list don’t seem a long way off from repeating the same feat.
NFL Teams with the Most Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners
The Jets’ defense has always been a bright spot for them (even through some tough years) and judging by their track record within the award, that’ll only continue.
The six teams who haven’t had a DROY on their roster is the smallest group of non-winners out of every NFL honor:
Defensive Rookie of the Year Betting Trends and Notes
- 17/20 of the previous winners (85%) were drafted in the first round.
- Linebackers make up 27 of the 58 previous DROY winners, followed by defensive ends at 13.
- Out of the previous ten winners, Will Anderson, Chase Young and Micah Parsons were the only favorites to win DROY before the start of the season.
- Four of the previous seven winners played for Ohio State in the NCAA – Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa, Chase Young and Marshon Lattimore.
- It’s been 33 years since a safety has won Defensive Rookie of the Year – Mark Carrier took the prize home in 1990.
How To Read Defensive Rookie Of The Year Odds
At any football sportsbook, you’ll see odds for a prop bet listed like this:
Dallas Turner +200
Nate Wiggins +500
Cooper DeJean +1600
If you were to bet $100 on Turner at +200, you’d get a payout of $300 – your original money is returned along with your winnings of $200. Conversely, that same $100 on DeJean would get you a higher payout of $1,700 – you get your $100 back plus your prize of $1,600. To see how much you’d win based on the odds and bet amount, check out our Odds Calculator.
What Is A Prop Bet On NFL Rookies?
A prop is a bet on the occurrence or non-occurrence of a certain team or individual milestones that don’t necessarily correlate to the outcome of a specific game. In this case, you’re betting on a player’s chances of winning a defensive award.
When the betting lines are created, they are subject to change as the season progresses and more games are played. A player with decent odds in September could see himself as a contender in November as he proves himself on the field. We suggest taking odds you like as soon as you see them. The longer you wait, the less value you’ll get on your bet.