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Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse forces a fumble by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the first half at SoFi Stadium as we look at our NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds.
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse forces a fumble by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Photo by Kirby Lee/Imagn Images.

Jared Verse still holds his lead atop the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds (DROY) leaderboard, but this race has become much more intriguing recently.

 Quinyon Mitchell keeps slowly eating away at Verse's lead. The two grew a little closer to each other after Week 14, with Verse moving from -125 to about -105, and Mitchell from +165 to roughly +140.

However, those are the best current prices available for savvy shoppers across our best NFL betting sites, and the two leaders are much closer than that elsewhere. That shows the market is becoming undecided regarding this race, and a tight finish between the two could be shaping up.

Verse remains the only player trading at minus money though. And barring something miraculous or an unfortunate injury, this truly is a two-player race. Beyond Verse and Mitchell, no other defender is trading at shorter than approximately +1600.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds 2024-25

  • Mitchell keeps closing the gap while contributing significantly to his Philadelphia Eagles getting the shortest Super Bowl odds of the five DROY favorites
  • Both Mitchell and Verse are receiving an implied probability of 41.67% or above, and everyone else is at 5.99% or below
  • Mitchell was getting +1400 odds in early November, but he's since ascended the oddsboard thanks to three outstanding performances against the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and Baltimore Ravens. He's trading as short as +110 at our NFL prop betting sites
  • As of shortly after Week 14, Caesars is offering an outlier price on Mitchell that bettors should pounce on, as he's much closer to Verse elsewhere (+110 with Verse at -110 through bet365, for example)

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite 2024-25

Jared Verse (-105)

Verse is getting an implied win probability of 51.22%, according to our odds calculator

He was given an 89.7 grade at PFF for his performance against the Miami Dolphins in Week 10. That outing also concluded a stretch of 3.5 sacks over three games. 

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

While that dud allowed Mitchell to considerably shrink the gap, Verse rebounded expertly 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 roughly 16% over the last four weeks, but he's still the front-runner.

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.

Best odds: -105 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 51.22%

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My NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate to watch

Quinyon Mitchell (+140)

The only man within sight of Verse on a crystal-clear day, Mitchell has been enjoying a terrific few weeks, putting him in contention again.

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. 

Jayden Daniels targeted him only once in coverage during 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.

NFL defensive rookie 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

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 nine-game winning streak also hasn't hurt.

The emerging defensive back has been consistently making up ground. His implied win probability has jumped by 13% at minimum since Week 11, and he's now within reach of reeling in Verse. 

A winning $10 bet would lead to a $14 profit through Caesars

Best odds: +140 via Caesars | Implied probability: 41.67%

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Defensive Rookie of the Year odds over time

Odds via bet365

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

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?

The Los Angeles Rams' Jared Verse is the consensus favorite by the Defensive Rookie of the Year odds entering Week 15. His market-best -105 odds through FanDuel leads to an implied win probability of 51.22%.

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

Here are our best NFL betting sites:

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