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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew scrambles away from Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse as we analyze the 2024-25 Defensive Player of the Year odds.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew scrambles away from Los Angeles Rams linebacker Jared Verse. Photo by Alex Gallardo via Imagn Images

Like most offensive lines, Jared Verse's opponents' resistance is starting to wane in the race to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

The Los Angeles Rams edge rusher is having an unforgettable rookie campaign, and he is the only Defensive Rookie of the Year odds (DROY) favorite trading at minus money at our best NFL betting sites.

He's been at the top of the odds leaderboard since Week 2 as he continually increases the gap between himself and the chasing pack. Laiatu Latu has been getting the second-best odds for as long as Verse has been on top, but he saw his odds lengthen from +300 to +600 following Week 8.

Latu and Verse are the only two rookies with odds better than 10 to 1, with most front-runners starting to fall off the pace entering Week 9. 

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds 2024-25

PlayerBetMGMImplied probability Profit ($10 bet)
Jared Verse-12555.56%$8
Laiatu Latu+60014.29%$60
Quinyon Mitchell+14006.67%$140
Evan Williams +1400 6.67%$140
T'Vondre Sweat+2000 5.88%$160
Byron Murphy II+1800 5.26%$180
Cooper DeJean +25003.85%$250
Braden Fiske+25003.85%$250
Kamari Lassiter+25003.85%$250
Chop Robinson+25003.85%$250
  • Verse is the only one of the 10 favorites whose odds shortened in Week 8, moving from +120 to -125.
  • Evan Williams (+1400) wasn't listed at BetMGM when the odds opened. Now, the Green Bay Packers' safety is tied as the third-biggest favorite.
  • Quinyon Mitchell has remained among the favorites for most of the season. His Philadelphia Eagles have the shortest Super Bowl odds of the five DROY favorites at BetMGM
  • Tennessee Titans nose tackle T'Vondre Sweat remains in the top 10 after his odds, which opened at +20000, lengthened from +1600 to +2000 in Week 8

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite 2024-25

Jared Verse (-125)

While there's still a ton of football to play, Jared Verse is starting to run away from the chasing pack thanks to an incredibly proficient and impressive first eight games in the NFL. He has an implied win probability of 55.56%, according to our odds calculator

With his best performance yet coming in prime time against the Vikings in Week 8, one of the league's best offenses, one has to wonder if Verse has a ceiling. 

He featured on 42 snaps, received an 83.5 overall grade from PFF, secured two sacks in a game for the first time, had a quarterback hit, and two hurries. 

Verse has the fourth-best edge pass rush win rate (25%), trailing only veteran defenders Trey Hendrickson (26%), Myles Garrett (27%), and Aidan Hutchinson (35%). 

That stat is staggering considering Garrett is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, and Hutchinson was the Defensive Player of the Year odds favorite before breaking his tibia. 

While not quite a shoo-in, his odds are losing value like cryptocurrency on the most volatile day. 

Best odds: -115 via bet365 | Implied probability: 53.49%

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My NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate to watch

Byron Murphy II (+1800)

Since the get-go, we've stuck with Byron Murphy II and are unwilling to turn our back on him now. Murphy returned in Week 7 after missing three games with a hamstring injury. 

The Seattle Seahawks lost all three games in which Murphy was absent. His odds lengthened from +1100 to +1800 from Week 6 to 7, which makes sense considering how much action he missed.  

Definitely considered an outsider considering Verse's pace, Murphy played pretty well despite the Seahawks' 31-10 home loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 8. He finished the game with a 65.7 PFF rating. It was his third-best grade in five games. 

There's still half a season to play, but Murphy must stay off the treatment table and play lights out for the remainder of the campaign to bridge the gap at the top and contend for DROY.

He'll also need Verse to endure an extended and precipitous drop-off. 

Best odds: +3000 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 3.23%

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Defensive Rookie of the Year odds over time

Odds via bet365

PlayerOpening odds (April 23)Aug. 12 Nov. 2
Dallas Turner+750+400+6000
Laiatu Latu+750+500+550
Jared Verse+900+1000-115
Terrion Arnold+1200+1000+8000
Byron Murphy II+1500+1400+2000
Quinyon Mitchell+1000+1200+1100
Chop Robinson+2000+1600+3300
Cooper DeJean+1600+2500+2500
Nate Wiggins+2200+2500+3500
Kamari Lassiter+3500+5000+2200

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 9 (-125). 

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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