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Dallas Turner of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates as we look at the best NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
Dallas Turner of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines during the CFP Semifinal Rose Bowl Game. Photo by Kevork Djansezian/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 ahead of Thursday's 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, Mich.

The NFL draft odds have long been heavily skewed to the offensive side of the football, as quarterbacks and wide receivers are expected to dominate the stage in Detroit, Mich., during Thursday's first round.

But there are still several top defensive talents in the draft and teams with their most dire needs on that side of the ball. Edge rushers Dallas Turner (Alabama) and Laiatu Latu (UCLA) are among the likeliest to be the first defender off the board, and they fittingly open as the Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites across our best sports betting sites.

Meanwhile, cornerback Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo) and defensive lineman Byron Murphy II (Texas) are in the running to be the top defensive player selected. Can any of them follow 2023-24 DPOY winner Will Anderson Jr., who came out of Alabama to star for the Houston Texans?

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 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds

(Odds as of April 24)

PlayerDraftKingsFanDuelbet365
Dallas Turner+700 ❄️+850 🔥+750 
Laiatu Latu+750 +700 ❄️+750 
Jared Verse+900 +850 ❄️+900 
Quinyon Mitchell+1100 🔥+1000+1000 
Terrion Arnold+1200 +1200 +1200 
Byron Murphy II+1400 ❄️+1600 🔥+1500 
Cooper DeJean+1600 +1600+1600 
Chop Robinson+2000 +2000+2000 
Nate Wiggins+2000 ❄️+2500 🔥+2200 
Kool-Aid McKinstry+2500 +2500+2500 

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year favorites

Dallas Turner (+850 via FanDuel)

Turner's the top defensive player in many mock drafts, with the Atlanta Falcons one of the most commonly projected landing spots at No. 8 overall.

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. The Falcons solidified their offensive skill positions via free agency and trades, and they're now expected to use the eighth overall pick on the best player available - unless they trade out of it.

Atlanta didn't re-sign veterans Calais Campbell and Bud Dupree after they led the team with 6.5 sacks last year. Turner could come in and have the immediate best shot at besting that number in his rookie campaign.

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Laiatu Latu (+750 via bet365)

As a senior with UCLA last season, Latu recorded 13 sacks to finish his college career with a three-year total of 24. Though he isn't commonly projected as the first defender off the board Thursday, sliding a little later into the first round and landing on a team where he'll have veteran help on the defensive line could provide him the best opportunity to compile the stats needed to win this award.

Quinyon Mitchell (+1100 via DraftKings)

Mitchell is projected among the top corner prospects in the draft, and he could even push Turner to be the first defender selected by the Falcons or another team. He finished his four-year career at Toledo with six interceptions and 45 passes defended.

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 +330 represent an implied win probability of 23.26%.

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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