Who are the favorites to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?
Edge pass rusher Chase Young is expected to be drafted second overall by the Washington Redskins and is at the top of the NFL odds board to win Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020. If Young does wind up in the Nation’s capital, he’ll benefit from a front seven that is dripping with young talent after adding Montez Sweat, Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen in the first round of the last three drafts.
Linebacker Isaiah Simmons is second on the NFL prop odds board for this award at +900 while Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa has seen his draft stock fall after a poor combine but is still third on the DROY odds list at +1,200.
Cornerback Jeff Okudah is seen as a potential shutdown corner at the next level and is the betting favorite to be taken third overall in the NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Keeping in mind that two of the last five DROY winners played cornerback. Okudah could be a great value play at +2,000.
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2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds
| Player | Position | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Chase Young | Edge | +500 |
| Isaiah Simmons | LB | +900 |
| A.J. Epenesa | DE | +1,200 |
| Patrick Queen | LB | +1,600 |
| Jeff Okudah | CB | +2,000 |
| Kenneth Murray | LB | +2,000 |
| Grant Delpit | S | +2,000 |
| Xavier McKinney | S | +2,200 |
| Akeem Davis-Gaither | LB | +2,200 |
| Troy Dye | LB | +2,200 |
| Derrick Brown | DL | +2,200 |
| Kristian Fulton | CB | +2,200 |
| Javon Kinlaw | DL | +2,500 |
| C.J. Henderson | CB | +2,500 |
| Willie Gay Jr. | LB | +2,500 |
| Ashtyn Davis | S | +2,500 |
| Cutris Weaver | Edge | +2,500 |
| Trevon Diggs | CB | +2,500 |
| Jordan Elliot | DL | +2,500 |
| Julian Okwara | Edge | +2,500 |
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Betting Trends
• Of the last 30 winners of the NFL DROY Award, an incredible 27 were drafted in the first round. Of the three winners that weren’t first rounders (DeMeco Ryans, Kendrell Bell and Darius Leonard), all were still selected within the Top 40 picks.
• Seven of the last 16 DROY winners played linebacker. Two others (Von Miller and Shawne Merriman) were listed at LB but would count as edge players in modern NFL defensive schemes. That said, that number is heavily inflated by four straight DROY winning linebackers from 2006 to 2009. Over the last seven years, only one LB has taken home the award.
• Three of the last four DROY winners played college ball for Ohio State. Two of those (the Bosa brothers) were edge rushers. Both of those recent trends bode well for Young as the betting favorite.
• Although safeties Grant Delpit and Xavier McKinney are in the top eight of the DROY odds board this year (and Cal safety Ashtyn Davis isn’t far behind them at +2500), no safety has won the NFL DROY Award since Mark Carrier in 1990.
Who has won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?
A quick look at the NFL DROY winners since 2004, the position they played and where they were drafted.
| Year | NFL DROY Award Winner | Position | Drafted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Nick Bosa | Edge | Round 1, pick 2 |
| 2018 | Darius Leonard | LB | Round 2, pick 36 |
| 2017 | Marshon Lattimore | CB | Round 1, pick 11 |
| 2016 | Joey Bosa | Edge | Round 1, pick 3 |
| 2015 | Marcus Peters | CB | Round 1, pick 18 |
| 2014 | Aaron Donald | DL | Round 1, pick 13 |
| 2013 | Sheldon Richardson | DL | Round 1, pick 13 |
| 2012 | Luke Keuchly | LB | Round 1, pick 9 |
| 2011 | Von Miller | Edge | Round 1, pick 2 |
| 2010 | Ndamukong Suh | DL | Round 1, pick 2 |
| 2009 | Brian Cushing | LB | Round 1, pick 15 |
| 2008 | Jerod Mayo | LB | Round 1, pick 10 |
| 2007 | Patrick Willis | LB | Round 1, pick 11 |
| 2006 | DeMeco Ryans | LB | Round 2, pick 33 |
| 2005 | Shawne Merriman | Edge | Round 1, pick 12 |
| 2004 | Jonathan Vilma | LB | Round 1, pick 12 |
