With the 2023 NFL Draft officially in the books, it's a perfect time to check out the latest odds for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award, as we have a star-studded class of rookies who will make some noise this season.
At this time last year, there was more excitement surrounding the defensive players than the offensive guys in the 2022 rookie class. Aidan Hutchison, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Sauce Gardner, Tariq Woolen, James Houston IV, Jalen Pitre, and George Karlaftis made big-time plays during their rookie campaigns. However, New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner ultimately won Defensive Player of the Year, recording 75 total tackles, 20 pass deflections, three tackles for loss, two interceptions, and only allowing one receiving touchdown.
Gardner became the third cornerback to win the prestigious award since 2000. Overall, the DPOY award is dominated by linebackers, who have won it 13 times, while EDGE/defensive ends have won it three times (since 2000). Looking at this year's rookie class, Texans LB Will Anderson, Eagles DT Jalen Carter, and Raiders DE Tyree Wilson are the top-three betting favorites to win DPOY, according to BetMGM.
However, bettors must watch out for sleepers such as Steelers CB Joey Porter Jr., Buccaneers DT Calijah Kancey, Commanders CB Emmanuel Forbes, and Lions LB Jack Campbell, who could ascend the odds board with strong performances throughout the summer. Below, we'll discuss the favorites to win the award and a couple of sleepers bettors should watch out for.
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NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds 2023
All odds courtesy of BetMGM
| Player | Odds |
| Will Anderson Jr., LB, Texans | +350 |
| Jalen Carter, DT, Eagles | +600 |
| Tyree Wilson, DE, Raiders | +700 |
| Devon Witherspoon, CB, Seahawks | +900 |
| Christian Gonzalez, CB, Patriots | +1000 |
| Lukas Van Ness, DE, Packers | +1200 |
| Nolan Smith, LB, Eagles | +1600 |
| Emmanuel Forbes, CB, Commanders | +1600 |
| Jack Campbell, LB, Lions | +1800 |
| Joey Porter Jr., CB, Steelers | +2000 |
| Myles Murphy, DE, Bengals | +2000 |
| Drew Sanders, LB, Broncos | +2000 |
| Will McDonald IV, LB, Jets | +2000 |
| Deonte Banks, CB, Giants | +2000 |
| Brian Branch, SAF, Lions | +2000 |
| Felix Anudike-Uzomah, DE, Chiefs | +2000 |
| Calijah Kancey, DT, Buccaneers | +2500 |
| Keion White, DE, Patriots | +2500 |
| Trenton Simpson, LB, Ravens | +3000 |
| Bryan Bresee, DT, Saints | +3000 |
| Kelee Ringo, CB, Eagles | +3000 |
| BJ Ojulari, LB, Cardinals | +3000 |
| Mazi Smith, DT, Cowboys | +3000 |
2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds: Favorites
Will Anderson Jr., LB, Texans (+350). After taking C.J. Stroud with the No. 2 overall pick, Houston moved up to the No. 3 overall pick in a trade with Arizona to select Anderson Jr., who is looked at as one of the premier defensive players in this year's class. Anderson is joining a Texans' defense, which has two solid defensive backs in the secondary (Jalen Pitre and Derek Stingley Jr.) but could use a playmaker in the front seven. The 6-foot-4 outside linebacker had a stellar collegiate career at Alabama, which included back-to-back double-digit sack seasons (2021 -- 17.5, '22 -- 10 sacks).
Anderson's best season at Alabama was in 2021, where he posted 101 total tackles, 31 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks (first in the country). Texans fans shouldn't expect 17.5 sacks from the rookie LB this upcoming season, but they should look out for Anderson to be utilized across the defense. He has the perfect head coach in DeMeco Ryans, who was a good NFL linebacker and did great things with the 49ers' defense as their defensive coordinator. Bettors wouldn't be wrong to put a wager on Anderson, but as we saw last season, the DROY race could change every week.
Jalen Carter, DT, Eagles (+600). Carter will look to be the fourth defensive tackle since 2000 season to win Defensive Player of the Year. The rookie defensive lineman played on one of the best defenses in college football over the past two seasons. Last season with the Bulldogs, Carter recorded 32 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, and three sacks.
Overall, Carter didn't get the quarterback a ton at Georgia (six total sacks), but that could change with the Eagles, as he's joining a star-studded defensive line that led the NFL with 70 sacks. Carter might likely not start in Sean Desai's defense, but if Philadelphia continues to rotate their defensive linemen, the rookie will get ample opportunities to wreak some havoc. When Aaron Donald won the DROY award in 2014, he posted 48 combined tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 13 QB hits, and nine sacks. Those are ridiculous numbers for any defensive tackle to get, no matter if they are a veteran or rookie. If Carter can be a disruptive force in the middle of the Eagles' defense and get in the backfield consistently, he'll get some attention.
2023 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds: Sleepers
Joey Porter Jr., CB, Steelers (+2000). Many mock drafts had Porter Jr. going in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. However, he slipped to the second round and was drafted by the Steelers. The young cornerback is in a great spot as he's playing for the team where his dad spent eight years of his career, and Pittsburgh needs a dynamic young defensive back on the perimeter.
In the offseason, the Steelers signed veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson to a two-year deal, but he's 32 years old. Pittsburgh also has veteran cornerback Akhello Witherspoon, but there's no reason why Porter Jr. cannot beat him out for the starting job. Porter Jr. only had one interception over his fourth-year career at Penn State. However, the 6-foot-2 cornerback did have 20 pass deflections, including 11 in his senior season. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Porter Jr. have an impact like Woolen had last season, as the Steelers will see a lot of good wide receivers in their division this season. If Porter Jr. can hold his own on the boundary, record a couple of interceptions, and doesn't allow many touchdowns, his odds will skyrocket!
Drew Sanders, LB, Broncos (+2000). The Broncos added to their linebacker depth in the NFL draft, as they selected the versatile Sanders in the third round. The 6-foot-4, 235 lb. linebacker had a fantastic 2022 season at Arkansas, posting 103 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, five pass deflections, and three forced fumbles.
Sanders was all over the field for the Razorbacks, which should translate well to Vance Joseph's defensive scheme. He can play in the middle and be used off the edge, which could quickly elevate him to one of the best defensive players in Denver's front seven. Linebackers have won the DROY award 13 times since 2000, including Micah Parsons and Darius Leonard in the past five years. At 20/1 odds, Sanders isn't a bad bet, as he'll have the task of trying to slow down the rest of the AFC West offenses this season.
More D-ROY sleepers to keep an eye on: Calijah Kancey, DT, Buccaneers (+2500); Brian Branch, SAF, Lions (+2000); Bryan Bresee, DT, Saints (+3000)
