Defensive Rookie of the Year betting: Two defensive linemen battling it out
Defensive Rookie of the Year has become a phenomenal predictor of which players will keep offensive coordinators up at night for years to come.
Three of the last four winners are generational defensive players. Micah Parsons and Nick Bosa are considered two of the league's best defensive players. Sauce Gardner is labeled as the best defensive back heading into his second season.
Chase Young's injuries have derailed his trajectory the last couple of seasons, but he's as impactful as any defensive end if he can regain even some of the dominance he showed three years ago.
More so than the offensive winners, DROY recipients have a much more immediate impact on their team and the league.
Earlier this week, we broke down the Offensive Rookie of the Year race. Now, let's break down the next crop of potential defensive game-changers.
Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Will Anderson | +400 |
| Jalen Carter | +600 |
| Tyree Wilson | +800 |
| Christian Gonzalez | +900 |
| Devon Witherspoon | +900 |
| Emmanuel Forbes | +1500 |
| Lukas Van Ness | +1500 |
| Jack Campbell | +1800 |
| Brian Branch | +2000 |
| Calijah Kancey | +2000 |
| Deonte Banks | +2000 |
| Felix Anudike-Uzomah | +2000 |
| Nolan Smith | +2000 |
| Joey Porter Jr. | +2200 |
| Drew Sanders | +2500 |
| Myles Murphy | +2500 |
| Will McDonald IV | +2500 |
There's been a trend over the last decade for Defensive Rookie of the Year winners.
The last four recipients were selected in the top 12. Three of the last four were taken within the top five.
Eight of the last 10 winners were top-15 draft picks. Only one was taken outside the first round.
Following that trend, only six guys on this year's board qualify as top-15 picks - Will Anderson, Jalen Carter, Tyree Wilson, Devon Witherspoon, Lukas Van Ness, and Will McDonald.
Anderson, who the Texans drafted third overall after selecting potential franchise quarterback C.J. Stroud No. 2, was a no-brainer as the first defensive player taken. There's nothing more valuable defensively than someone who can get after the quarterback, and the edge rusher from Alabama was a nightmare for opposing SEC passers.
Anderson had 80 solo tackles, 27.5 sacks, and 48 tackles for loss in his last two seasons for the Crimson Tide. He should change the complexion of Houston's defense in Year 1.
But while Anderson is the clear-cut favorite, but there are some notable names with longer odds.
You don't have to search down the board too far to find an absolute stud expected to make an instant impact. Jalen Carter was an unquestioned top-five talent according to draft evaluators. However, off-field legal issues made many teams skeptical, which led to Carter's fall to the ninth pick.
But one team's question mark is another team's gold. On a stacked Georgia defense, Carter had 83 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, and six sacks while winning two national championships in his college career.
According to reports from Eagles training camp, he's been a playmaker. The admiration he's received is unlike what any other rookie on either side of the ball has earned this year.
All-Pro offensive lineman Lane Johnson said he can "play at a really high level right now." Eagles running back Rashaad Penny said he hasn't seen anyone like Carter since Aaron Donald, who was the last defensive tackle to win the award.
Philadelphia's slightly thin and aging at defensive tackle, so Carter's opportunities will be endless, which is unusual for a rookie defensive lineman.
The expectations for Carter skyrocket with every ounce of praise his veteran teammates deliver. But it sure sounds, and looks, like he can live up to it.
Pick: Jalen Carter +600
Sam Oshtry is a sports betting writer at theScore. You can follow him on Twitter @soshtry for more betting coverage.
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