NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year Odds: Abdul Carter a Heavy Favorite

New York Giants -rusher Abdul Carter leads the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds at +250, followed by Jalon Walker at +700, Travis Hunter at +1000, Mykel Williams at +1100, and Shemar Stewart at +1200.

Dive into the updated NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds and analysis with a few key players to keep an eye on throughout the off-season:

NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year Odds For 2025-26

Odds from FanDuel as of Apr. 29th

Los Angeles Rams -rusher Jared Verse took home the NFL Defensive Player of the Year trophy last season. Verse racked up 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles while leading the underrated Rams' defense in pressures to win the award. 

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Can Abdul Carter live up to the Hype? 

Former Penn State -rusher ended up being the third pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and landing with the New York Giants. Carter buoyed his draft stock throughout his senior season, posting 24 tackles for loss and 12 sacks in his first year as a full-time -rusher. 

The question remains, with veterans Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in front of him, could a lack of snaps hurt Carter's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year prospects. The 2024 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year is no lock to start in Week 1, and if he has a slow start, others who are further down the betting odds board will likely gain ground. , only three of the last 10 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award winners were favorites heading into the season. 

Carter is an outstanding talent, with the ability to develop into a Micah Parsons-like impact player. However, the real value lies further down the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds board. 

Is Travis Hunter a Good Bet to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?

Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter looks set to ply his trade at two positions during the 2025-26 NFL season. But, which side of the ball will he be most effective on? 

Hunter reeled in seven interceptions and knocked down 16 es in two seasons at Colorado, leading many prognosticators to determine his future lies on the defensive side of the ball. No. 12's elite first step, play recognition and ball skills make him a top-tier cornerback prospect. However, if he also plays a full slate of offensive plays, what's Hunter's impact likely to be on defense? There are far more questions than answers when it comes to Travis Hunter's playing time to bet on him to be the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. 

Last 10 Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners

*now the Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Charges and St. Louis Rams, respectively.

You’ll probably recognize every name on this list - many are still making problems for offenses across the league. These players ed their squad’s defense and immediately gave it a level up, contributing monstrous sacks, stunning interceptions, and shutdown coverage across the field.

Aaron Donald and Nick Bosa went on to win Defensive Player of the Year only a few years after receiving this honor, and our friends at the top of the list don’t seem a long way off from repeating the same feat.

NFL Teams with the Most Defensive Rookie of the Year Winners

The Jets’ defense has always been a bright spot for them (even through some tough years) and judging by their track record within the award, that’ll only continue.

The six teams who haven’t had a DROY on their roster is the smallest group of non-winners out of every NFL honor:

• Cincinnati Bengals
• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Minnesota Vikings
• Philadelphia Eagles
• Seattle Seahawks
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defensive Rookie of the Year Betting Trends and Notes

• 17/20 of the previous winners (85%) were drafted in the first round.
• Linebackers make up 27 of the 58 previous DROY winners, followed by defensive ends at 13.
• Out of the previous ten winners, Will Anderson, Chase Young and Micah Parsons were the only favorites to win DROY before the start of the season.
• Four of the previous seven winners played for Ohio State in the NCAA – Nick Bosa, Joey Bosa, Chase Young and Marshon Lattimore.
• It’s been 33 years since a safety has won Defensive Rookie of the Year - Mark Carrier took the prize home in 1990.

How To Read Defensive Rookie Of The Year Odds

At any football sportsbook, you’ll see odds for a prop bet listed like this:

Abdul Carter +250

Jalon Walker +700

Travis Hunter +1000

If you were to bet $100 on Carter at +250, you’d get a payout of $350 – your original money is returned along with your winnings of $250. Conversely, that same $100 on Carter would get you a higher payout of $800 – you get your $100 back plus your prize of $700. To see how much you’d win based on the odds and bet amount, check out our Odds Calculator.

What Is A Prop Bet On NFL Rookies?

A prop is a bet on the occurrence or non-occurrence of a certain team or individual milestones that don’t necessarily correlate to the outcome of a specific game. In this case, you’re betting on a player’s chances of winning a defensive award.

When the betting lines are created, they are subject to change as the season progresses and more games are played. A player with decent odds in September could see himself as a contender in November as he proves himself on the field. We suggest taking odds you like as soon as you see them. The longer you wait, the less value you’ll get on your bet.