NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Betting
Linebackers have a historical edge over other defenders when it comes to being named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. We have seen 13 linebackers named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in the last 23 years, and that’s more than any other position group by a large amount. However, defensive linemen with gaudy sack totals have been popular picks lately as sacks have surpassed tackles as the most important stat for a defensive player. Five of the last 10 Defensive Rookie of the Year winners have been defensive linemen, so those are the favorites to win this award entering the 2023 season.
Playmaking stats are the most important numbers to consider when looking at NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Sacks and interceptions are the eye-popping stats, and it also helps if you are on a winning team or show out in a primetime game. That can make it hard to bet on cornerbacks as they aren’t seen often and are usually only highlighted if they have several interceptions in a season.
NFL Betting Lines
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds
| PLAYER |
ODDS |
| Will Anderson |
+400 |
| Jalen Carter |
+750 |
| Tyree Wilson |
+900 |
| Devon Witherspoon |
+1000 |
| Christian Gonzalez |
+1100 |
| Luke Van Ness |
+1500 |
| Emmanuel Forbes |
+1800 |
| Calijah Kancey |
+1800 |
| Felix Anudike-Uzomah |
+2200 |
| Jack Campbell |
+2200 |
| Will McDonald IV |
+2500 |
Will Anderson is the obvious choice to be the 2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite by the NFL betting odds. Anderson was the first defensive player taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, and he was seen as the best defender available even before the 2022 season got underway. He will immediately be one of the biggest names on a bad team, and that will give him a boost in the eyes of the voters. Additionally, Anderson will have the opportunity to put up big numbers on a bad team in new coach DeMeco Ryans’ defense.
The only other players with odds of less than 10-1 to be named NFL DROY are Jalen Carter and Tyree Wilson. Carter was seen as the most talented player in the draft by some observers, but his stock dropped due to off-the-field issues. Meanwhile, Wilson’s raw physical talent jumped off the page at the NFL Combine, so he could post big numbers in Las Vegas.
Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners (2000)
| YEAR |
WINNER |
TEAM |
| 2022 |
Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner |
New York Jets |
| 2021 |
Micah Parsons |
Dallas Cowboys |
| 2020 |
Chase Young |
Washington Commanders |
| 2019 |
Nick Bosa |
San Francisco 49ers |
| 2018 |
Darius Leonard |
Indianapolis Colts |
| 2017 |
Marshon Lattimore |
New Orleans Saints |
| 2016 |
Joey Bosa |
San Diego Chargers |
| 2015 |
Marcus Peters |
Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2014 |
Aaron Donald |
St. Louis Rams |
| 2013 |
Sheldon Richardson |
New York Jets |
| 2012 |
Luke Kuechly |
Carolina Panthers |
| 2011 |
Von Miller |
Denver Broncos |
| 2010 |
Ndamukong Suh |
Detroit Lions |
| 2009 |
Brian Cushing |
Houston Texans |
| 2008 |
Jerod Mayo |
New England Patriots |
| 2007 |
Patrick Willis |
San Francisco 49ers |
| 2006 |
DeMeco Ryans |
Houston Texans |
| 2005 |
Shawne Merriman |
San Diego Chargers |
| 2004 |
Jonathan Vilma |
New York Jets |
| 2003 |
Terrell Suggs |
Baltimore Ravens |
| 2002 |
Julius Peppers |
Carolina Panthers |
| 2001 |
Kendrell Bell |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2000 |
Brian Urlacher |
Chicago Bears |
The New York Jets have had more players win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors than any other team in the league. Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner became the fifth Jet to be named NFL DROY in 2022, breaking a three-way tie with Kansas City and San Francisco.
Micah Parsons was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021, becoming the first player on the Dallas Cowboys to ever earn the honor. Parsons had 13 sacks and was named a First Team All-Pro, quickly becoming one of the stars of the defense. He finished runner-up in NFL Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022, and Gardner will be trying to follow in those footsteps.
The Bosa brothers both were named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. Older brother Joey Bosa won this award over Jalen Ramsey in 2016, and Nick Bosa was an even bigger winner in 2019 although he had the third-most sacks of any rookie that year.
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