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Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell walks out of the tunnel for action against the Carolina Panthers as we look at the NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds.
Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell walks out of the tunnel for action against the Carolina Panthers. Photo by Bill Streicher/Imagn Images.

Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jared Verse has finally been pushed aside, with standout Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell leaping past him to become the new NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds favorite.

Verse's lead wasn't a significant one for the past few weeks, and the same is true now for Mitchell's advantage. The latter's market-best odds are the +110 from FanDuel. However, he's generally around even money elsewhere at our best NFL betting sites, including sitting in minus money and as short as -105 through BetMGM and bet365.

Meanwhile, this remains a two-player race, with Verse still not far behind despite his stumble in the odds. He's mostly listed around +140 or +150 at our NFL parlay betting sites. However, the top-tier pass-rusher sits a little lower and closer to Mitchell at +135 through Caesars.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds 2024-25

  • Mitchell has surged ahead finally while contributing significantly to his Philadelphia Eagles getting the shortest Super Bowl odds of the five DROY favorites
  • Though his lead was often narrow, Verse had sat atop this oddsboard since Week 2
  • Chop Robinson climbed up the board too, as prior to this last week there was no other defender getting odds shorter than +1600 beyond the top two
  • However, this is still clearly a two-candidate race down the home stretch, as Verse sits in second with an implied win probability of 40%, while Robinson's probability is far back at 10%, and the fourth place Tarheeb Still rests at 6.25%
  • Mitchell was getting +1400 odds in early November, but he's since rocketed up the oddsboard, stringing together outstanding performances, while continuing to develop fast

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite 2024-25

Quinyon Mitchell (+110)

Mitchell keeps impressing and climbing. Jumping ahead of Verse has felt inevitable for a few weeks, and now here we are with the defensive back leading by the odds.

After a three-week lull from Weeks 7 through 9, Mitchell produced four of his best outings against the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens, and Rams. Three of those clubs are currently in a playoff position.

Jayden Daniels targeted him only once in coverage back in Week 11, which resulted in an incompletion. He also broke up two of four passes thrown in his direction against the Cowboys in Week 10. Mitchell knocked down another pass against Los Angeles in Week 11 and allowed only two receptions on five targets while facing Lamar Jackson. He's now recorded 10 passes defended overall, putting him just outside of the top 20 leaguewide.

He's maturing quickly with the Eagles, and his versatility in the secondary has been bolstering Mitchell's stock.

As a little bonus, it's helped that the Eagles have been playing under the prime-time spotlight so much recently. The team being on a 10-game winning streak also hasn't hurt.

A winning $10 bet would lead to an $11 profit through FanDuel. 

Best odds: +110 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 47.62%

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My NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate to watch

Jared Verse (+150)

Verse was given an 89.7 grade at PFF for his performance against the Miami Dolphins back in Week 10. But that outing concluded his hottest stretch when he notched 3.5 sacks over three games. 

He hasn't recorded a sack since and struggled during a significant clash against the Eagles in Week 12, receiving easily his worst defensive grade (40.8) at PFF.

That dud allowed Mitchell to considerably shrink the gap and be in a position to pass Verse. However, Verse rebounded nicely against the New Orleans Saints in Week 13. He tallied five tackles, three hurries, and three quarterback hits, finishing with his second-best grade (89.6) of the season.

His implied win probability has decreased by roughly 16% over the last five weeks. But he's still well within reach of Mitchell and only slightly behind.

There was an opportunity for Verse to distance himself again in Week 14 while facing NFL MVP odds front-runner Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. But although his Rams won a shootout 44-42, Allen thrived while accounting for six touchdowns. Verse was quiet and didn't register a sack while tallying only two tackles.

A $10 wager on Verse at these odds would lead to a $15 profit.

Best odds: +150 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 40%

Defensive Rookie of the Year odds over time

Odds via bet365

PlayerOpening odds (April 23)Aug. 12 Nov. 15Dec. 3Dec. 10Dec. 18
Dallas Turner+750+400+6000+20000OFF+10000
Laiatu Latu+750+500+1400+2800+2500+3000
Jared Verse+900+1000-250-130-110+150
Terrion Arnold+1200+1000+10000+10000+25000+20000
Byron Murphy II+1500+1400+2500+15000+7500OFF
Quinyon Mitchell+1000+1200+400+160+110-105
Chop Robinson+2000+1600+4000+1800+1400+950
Cooper DeJean+1600+2500+2500+1800+2500+2800
Nate Wiggins+2200+2500+5000+15000+25000+2500
Kamari Lassiter+3500+5000+1800+5000+7500+5000

Past NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winners

SeasonPlayerTeamPositionPreseason odds
2023Will Anderson Jr.TexansDE+400
2022Sauce GardnerJetsCB+1200
2021Micah ParsonsCowboysLB+600
2020Chase YoungWashingtonDE+150
2019Nick Bosa49ersDE+700
2018Shaquille LeonardColtsLB+3050
2017Marshon LattimoreSaintsCBN/A
2016Joey BosaChargersDEN/A
2015Marcus PetersChiefsCB+3500
2014Aaron DonaldRamsDT+900

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winners by position

PositionDROY winners
Linebacker27
Defensive end13
Cornerback10
Defensive tackle7
Safety2

How to bet on NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year

When betting on NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds, find a reputable sportsbook that offers futures bets. Check out the odds for different players; for example, if Dallas Turner is at +500 and Jared Verse is at +800, Turner is favored to win.

Decide how much you want to wager and place your bet. If you bet $100 on Turner at +500 and he wins, you’ll get $600 back ($500 profit + $100 stake). Keep an eye on how the rookies perform throughout the season to see how your bet is shaping up.

But remember with odds movement in future markets it's all about performance and perception. If a rookie has a standout game, their odds will improve. Conversely, if they underperform or get injured, their odds will worsen.

Team success can also influence a player's odds; rookies on winning teams might see better odds. Public betting trends are important too - if a lot of people are betting on one player, sportsbooks might adjust the odds to manage their risk.

Expert analysis and predictions also play a role, as they can sway public opinion and betting patterns. Understanding these factors can help you make smarter bets and potentially catch favorable odds shifts.

How to read NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds

Reading NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds is straightforward. Odds are usually presented in a format like +500 or -200. Positive odds (e.g., +500) show how much profit you’d make on a $100 bet.

For example, a $100 bet at +500 odds would win you $500, plus your original $100 stake, totaling $600. Negative odds (e.g., -200) indicate how much you need to bet to win $100. So, a $200 bet at -200 odds would win you $100, plus your $200 stake, totaling $300.

These odds also reflect the implied probability of a player winning the award. Lower odds (e.g., +200) suggest a higher likelihood of winning, while higher odds (e.g., +1000) indicate a lower likelihood. Sportsbooks adjust these odds based on factors like player performance, injuries, team success, and betting patterns.

For example, if Laiatu Latu has +500 odds and Quinyon Mitchell has +800 odds, Latu is considered more likely to win. If you bet $100 on Latu and he wins, you’d get $600 back ($500 profit + $100 stake). Understanding these odds helps you make informed betting decisions and assess potential returns.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year FAQs

Who is the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year?

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell has finally pushed ahead of Los Angeles Rams defensive end Jared Verse. His market-best +110 odds at FanDuel translate to an implied probability of 47.62%.

When will the 2024-25 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year be announced?

The 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year will be announced during the NFL Honors ceremony during Super Bowl week in early February 2025.

Who was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last year?

Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year for the 2023 season.

Has a team ever had both the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year?

With C.J. Stroud winning OROY and Will Anderson winning DROY for the Houston Texans last season, it was the fourth time in league history that both winners were on the same team.

The previous three times were with the New York Jets in 2022 (Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner), New Orleans Saints in 2017 (Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore), and the Detroit Lions in 1967 (Mel Farr, Lem Barney).

Has a rookie ever won Defensive Player of the Year? 

Lawrence Taylor is the only rookie to have ever won Defensive Player of the Year. He won it in 1981 with the New York Giants.

NFL betting odds pages

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