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Laiatu Latu poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell as we look at the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
Laiatu Latu poses with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected 15th overall by the Indianapolis Colts during the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images via AFP.

Edge rushers Dallas Turner and Laiatu Latu opened as the betting favorites by the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds from our best NFL betting sites.

The NFL draft odds were heavily skewed to the offensive side of the football, as was the first round of the 2024 draft in Detroit, Mich. That could help make the Defensive Rookie of the Year market one of the most interesting NFL award betting markets this season.

Edge rushers Dallas Turner and Laiatu Latu opened as the Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites across our best sports betting sites. But it seems as though the door is wide open for a long-shot winner in this market this season.

In companion with the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year odds, here's our breakdown of the opening 2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds via our best sportsbooks and a history of the award.

2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year odds

(Odds as of April 26)

PlayerDraftKingsFanDuelBetMGMbet365
Dallas Turner+400 ❄️+450+650 🔥+500 
Laiatu Latu+700 +800 🔥+650 ❄️+750
Quinyon Mitchell+1000 +1000+900 ❄️+1000
Jared Verse+1100 🔥+1000+800 ❄️+1000
Chop Robinson+1300 ❄️+1600+2000+2000
Byron Murphy II+1300+1200 ❄️+1300+1500 🔥
Terrion Arnold+1300 🔥+1000+1000 +1200
Cooper DeJean+2000 +2000+1300 ❄️+1600
Nate Wiggins+2200+2500+2500+2200
Kool-Aid McKinstry+2500 +2500+2500+2500

Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites

Dallas Turner (+650 via BetMGM)

Turner was the top defensive player in many mock drafts, but he slipped to the Minnesota Vikings at pick No. 17, with two defenders going above him. 

The edge defender out of Alabama racked up 22.5 sacks over three collegiate seasons, including a high of 10 in his junior year along with 53 total tackles and two forced fumbles.

He's a great fit for defensive coordinator Brian Flores' aggressive system and he'll help to fill the massive void left by Danielle Hunter's free agency departure this offseason. That void of sacks and QB pressures could help propel Turner to this award if he's able to scoop up the majority of those being redistributed in Minnesota.

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Laiatu Latu (+800 via FanDuel)

As a senior with UCLA last season, Latu recorded 13 sacks to finish his college career with a three-year total of 24. He went two picks before Turner to the Indianapolis Colts but isn't favored over Turner at any of our best sports betting apps.

Regarded by many as the best pure pass rusher in the class due to his heavy hands, Latu's expected to make an impact right away for a Colts defense that hasn't had a double-digit sack artist since 2019.

If not for a neck injury that forced him to temporarily retire from football, many draftniks believed he would have been selected even higher.

Quinyon Mitchell (+1000 via DraftKings)

Mitchell was the first cornerback selected Thursday, going to the Philadelphia Eagles with pick No. 22. He'll play opposite Darius Slay Jr. in the secondary and will hope to bolster a unit that struggled mightily in 2023.

Only three of the last 10 winners of this award were cornerbacks, with New York Jets star Sauce Gardner winning most recently in 2022. Mitchell will likely need a few interceptions to have a shot at this award, and he has the ball skills and explosiveness to make that happen.

Understanding NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds

Betting on the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award involves predicting which rookie player will have the most outstanding defensive performance during the season. Similar to Offensive Rookie of the Year betting, sportsbooks offer odds for various rookie defensive players based on their potential impact on the field.

For example, let's say Dallas Turner has odds of +700 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. This means that if you bet $10 on Turner and he wins the award, you would profit $70 and get your original $10 bet back. If Kool-Aid McKinstry has odds of +2500, a $10 bet on him would yield a profit of $250 if he wins the award as a long shot.

Just like with Offensive Rookie of the Year betting, it's crucial to consider various factors when betting on the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Keep an eye on rookie players' performances throughout the season, their impact on their teams' defenses, and any standout plays or statistics that could influence their chances of winning the award. These factors can affect the odds, so staying informed can help you make informed betting decisions.

Defensive Rookie of the Year odds over time

We'll be tracking the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds throughout the season. Odds will shift significantly around key offseason dates and will then move based on player and team performance once the season begins.

Odds via bet365.

PlayerOpening odds (April 23)
Dallas Turner+750
Laiatu Latu+750
Jared Verse+900
Quinyon Mitchell+1000
Terrion Arnold+1200
Byron Murphy II+1500
Cooper DeJean+1600
Chop Robinson+2000
Nate Wiggins+2200
Kool-Aid McKinstry+2500
Darius Robinson+3000
Edgerrin Cooper+3000
Jer'Zhan Newton+3500
Kamari Lassiter+3500
Mike Sainristil+3500
Payton Wilson+3500
Tyler Nubin+3500
Bralen Trice+4500
Chris Braswell+4500

Previous NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winners

SeasonPlayerTeamPosition
2023Will Anderson Jr.TexansDE
2022Sauce GardnerJetsCB
2021Micah ParsonsCowboysLB
2020Chase YoungWashingtonDE
2019Nick Bosa49ersDE
2018Shaquille LeonardColtsLB
2017Marshon LattimoreSaintsCB
2016Joey BosaChargersDE
2015Marcus PetersChiefsCB
2014Aaron DonaldRamsDT

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year FAQs

Who is the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year?

Former Alabama EDGE Dallas Turner opened as the favorite by the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds, and he's projected to be the first defender selected in Thursday's NFL draft. His shortest odds of +400 represent an implied win probability of 20%.

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.

NFL betting odds pages

Here are our best NFL betting sites:

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