NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds: Cornering the market
The betting market for this season's Defensive Rookie of the Year is fairly similar to the draft order, unlike last season when No. 1 pick Travon Walker wasn't the favorite.
The DROY market also differs from that of the Offensive Rookie of the Year, where none of the four quarterbacks that teams jockeyed for is the favorite.
Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
| PLAYER | ODDS |
|---|---|
| Will Anderson | +375 |
| Jalen Carter | +750 |
| Tyree Wilson | +800 |
| Devon Witherspoon | +900 |
| Christian Gonzalez | +900 |
| Lukas Van Ness | +1300 |
| Emmanuel Forbes | +1500 |
| Brian Branch | +2000 |
| Deonte Banks | +2000 |
| Felix Anudike-Uzomah | +2000 |
| Jack Campbell | +2000 |
| Nolan Smith | +2000 |
| Calijah Kancey | +2500 |
| Drew Sanders | +2500 |
| Joey Porter Jr. | +2500 |
| Myles Murphy | +2500 |
| Will McDonald IV | +2500 |
| B.J. Ojulari | +3000 |
| Bryan Breese | +3000 |
| Keion White | +3000 |
| Kelee Ringo | +3000 |
| Trenton Simpson | +3000 |
| Cam Smith | +4000 |
| Mazi Smith | +4000 |
Top favorite pick: Tyree Wilson (+800)
Leading up to the draft, there was some buzz that Wilson might be the first defensive player off the board. The intrigue of the best pure pass-rusher didn't overwhelm the Texans, who used their risky trade up to select the safer player in Will Anderson Jr.
However, when it comes to betting, we're here for the highest upside. Our pick can't just be pretty good - he needs to have a bigger season than every other first-year player.
Maxx Crosby is awesome, but Chandler Jones' one massive game in each of the last two seasons leaves room for improvement. Wilson might be better suited to taking advantage of the attention Crosby gets from opposing protections, and if he can match Aidan Hutchinson's 9.5 sacks from 2022, he'll have a better chance of fending off a flashy cornerback in a big market.
Mid-tier contender: Deonte Banks (+2000)
Banks was relatively anonymous coming out of Maryland, and three other corners were selected ahead of him. But the media will make the new Giants player a household name if it sees an opportunity to create another star. Sauce Gardner did the unthinkable last year by winning the DROY with just two interceptions. Leading the league in passes defended has never gotten so much attention.
For the longest time, a rookie cornerback couldn't get enough attention to top some of the big first-year sack leaders and tacklers. Now one has won DROY three times in the last eight years. The other first-round cornerbacks might be better or have longer careers, but Banks is just as likely as Devon Witherspoon, Emmanuel Forbes, and Christian Gonzalez to have a standout season - and he comes at a better payout.
Long shot of interest: Cam Smith (+4000)
It turns out I like the Dolphins' draft more than I thought I would. After taking a new Dolphin as a long-shot bet to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, I'm now looking at Smith on the defensive side of the ball. If the South Carolina second-round cornerback gets the number of balls thrown his way that one would expect when lining up on the opposite side of new addition Jalen Ramsey, he'll have ample opportunity to be the instinctive ball hawk scouts project him to be. With some splashy plays, he's sure to get voters' attention.
Matt Russell is the lead betting analyst for theScore. If there's a bad beat to be had, Matt will find it. Find him on Twitter @mrussauthentic.