NFL Defensive Player of the Year Betting
Nick Bosa is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Bosa led the league with 18.5 sacks during the 2022 season, and that allowed him to surpass Micah Parsons in the eyes of voters over the last month of the campaign. Parsons was seen as the favorite to win the award through most of the year, but Bosa finished the season strong as San Francisco had one of the best defenses in the league. Both players are on the short list of favorites heading into the 2023 campaign.
NFL Betting Lines
NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds
| PLAYER |
ODDS |
| Myles Garrett |
+700 |
| Micah Parsons |
+700 |
| T.J. Watt |
+800 |
| Nick Bosa |
+1100 |
| Ahmad Gardner |
+1300 |
| Maxx Crosby |
+1300 |
| Aaron Donald |
+2000 |
| Brian Burns |
+2200 |
| Haason Reddick |
+2500 |
It would be wise to avoid betting on either Nick Bosa or Aaron Donald to be named 2022 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Bosa will be at a slight disadvantage as there is a natural hesitancy to give a player an award in consecutive seasons, and San Francisco is at a major disadvantage when you look at the 49ers’ 2023 schedule. They have 20 less days of rest than their opponents this season, and that is the worst cumulative total in the league. As for Aaron Donald, he might be on the downslope of his career at 32, and this will be his 10th season in the league. Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams are going to be a mediocre team at best, and they have the second-fewest rest days in the league next to San Francisco.
Defensive Player of the Year Winners (2000)
| YEAR |
WINNER |
TEAM |
| 2022 |
Nick Bosa |
San Francisco 49ers |
| 2021 |
T.J. Watt |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2020 |
Aaron Donald |
Los Angeles Rams |
| 2019 |
Stephon Gilmore |
New England Patriots |
| 2018 |
Aaron Donald |
Los Angeles Rams |
| 2017 |
Aaron Donald |
Los Angeles Rams |
| 2016 |
Khalil Mack |
Oakland Raiders |
| 2015 |
J.J. Watt |
Houston Texans |
| 2014 |
J.J. Watt |
Houston Texans |
| 2013 |
Luke Kuechly |
Carolina Panthers |
| 2012 |
J.J. Watt |
Houston Texans |
| 2011 |
Terrell Suggs |
Baltimore Ravens |
| 2010 |
Troy Polamalu |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2009 |
Charles Woodson |
Green Bay Packers |
| 2008 |
James Harrison |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2007 |
Bob Sanders |
Indianapolis Colts |
| 2006 |
Jason Taylor |
Miami Dolphins |
| 2005 |
Brian Urlacher |
Chicago Bears |
| 2004 |
Ed Reed |
Baltimore Ravens |
| 2003 |
Ray Lewis |
Baltimore Ravens |
| 2002 |
Derrick Brooks |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 2001 |
Michael Strahan |
New York Giants |
| 2000 |
Ray Lewis |
Baltimore Ravens |
An NFL Defensive Player of the Year win will help you get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and most of the players that have won this award ended up in Canton. Every retired player that won this award twice is in the Hall of Fame, and almost all of the recent winners will eventually be enshrined.
Aaron Donald has been the most dominant defensive player in the league for the last several years and will be a first ballot Hall of Fame selection. Donald recorded at least eight sacks every season he had been in the NFL before last season, and he finished in the top five of voting for this award for seven consecutive years before a down 2022 campaign by his lofty standards.
Most NFL Defensive Player of the Year Awards
| PLAYERS |
AWARDS WON |
| Aaron Donald |
3 |
| J.J. Watt |
3 |
| Lawrence Taylor |
3 |
| Ray Lewis |
2 |
| Bruce Smith |
2 |
| Reggie White |
2 |
| Mike Singletary |
2 |
| Joe Greene |
2 |
Aaron Donald can become the greatest defensive player in the history of the NFL by one metric if he wins one more NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Donald has already won this award three times, and he is widely considered the best defensive player in the league. He was named a First Team All-Pro for seven straight seasons, and Donald has revolutionized the way the game is played.
Three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Lawrence Taylor also revolutionized the linebacker position with his skillset. LT was unquestionably the best defensive player in the 1980s, and he was named First Team All-Pro eight times in that decade. Many consider Taylor the best linebacker in the history of the NFL, and it’s hard to argue against him.
The only other player to win this award three times is J.J. Watt. He had five dominant years with the Houston Texans, but injuries led to him missing at least half the year in four seasons from 2016 to 2021.
Access live betting lines and NFL Betting Lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform.
