NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds 2025: Carter the Favorite Over Walker, Williams
Abdul Carter opened as the betting favorite by the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds even before the 2025 NFL Draft started, and he remains the top choice following Round 1.
The former Penn State star is priced at +230 to win the top rookie award for defenders, trading ahead of former Georgia teammates Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams - both drafted in the top 15. Those three are followed by WR/CB Travis Hunter, who might not play full-time on defense for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The top nine players on the board were all drafted in Thursday's first round, but we could see some odds movement for the players beneath them once the second round starts tonight at 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network, ESPN, ABC).
📈 2025 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds
Opening NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds via bet365; subject to change.
| 🏈 Player | 💰 Odds | 🔢 Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Abdul Carter, EDGE | +230 | 30.30% |
| Jalon Walker, EDGE | +600 | 14.29% |
| Mykel Williams, EDGE | +850 | 10.53% |
| Travis Hunter, WR/CB | +900 | 10% |
| Mason Graham, DT | +1100 | 8.33% |
| Shemar Stewart, EDGE | +1400 | 6.67% |
| James Pearce Jr., EDGE | +1600 | 5.88% |
| Jihaad Campbell, LB | +1800 | 5.26% |
| Malaki Starks, S | +1800 | 5.26% |
| Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE | +2000 | 4.76% |
| Mike Green, EDGE | +2000 | 4.76% |
| Walter Nolan, DT | +2000 | 4.76% |
| Jahdae Barron, CB | +2200 | 4.35% |
| Will Johnson, CB | +2500 | 3.85% |
| JT Tuimoloau, EDGE | +3300 | 2.94% |
| Derrick Harmon, DT | +4000 | 2.44% |
| Kenneth Grant, DT | +4000 | 2.44% |
| Nick Emmanwori, S | +4000 | 2.44% |
| Nic Scourton, EDGE | +5000 | 1.96% |
| Shavon Revel Jr., CB | +5000 | 1.96% |
🏆 Early betting favorites to win 2025 NFL DROY award
NFL DROY betting favorites via our best NFL betting sites as of April 25.
🔥 Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State (+230)
There's a case to be made that Carter is the best player in this entire draft, and it isn't a hard one to make after the former Penn State star led the nation in tackles for loss (24) alongside 12 sacks in an All-American campaign.
The Tennessee Titans' lust for quarterbacks and Jacksonville Jaguars' love for Hunter - who is +900 to win this award as a cornerback - dropped Carter down to the third pick. Make no mistake about the talent: his profile screams DROY, and he should be the favorite entering the season.
🔥 Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia (+600)
Despite entering college with incredible hype, Walker didn't start for Georgia until this past season, when he finished third-team All-American and won the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker.
Walker's elite athleticism should make him an effective pass-rusher at the next level, and he has experience and the skill set to play as an off-ball linebacker, too. His status as a "tweener" dropped him to the 15th pick, but his versatility for a needy Atlanta Falcons defense could make him a sneaky bet to win.
🔥 Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia (+850)
It wasn't all that long ago that Williams was projected to be the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NFL draft. He's still an elite raw talent with upside as high as anyone in this year's class, and the San Francisco 49ers clearly valued that ceiling after spending the No. 11 on the former Georgia star.
We highlighted Williams before the draft when he was still dealing at +1500 odds, and I can't imagine a better landing spot for him to develop his skill set. These odds feel a touch short, but I see the appeal. He can win this award.
🔥 Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado (+900)
Hunter was one of the early storylines after Jacksonville gave up a monster trade package to acquire him, but the Jaguars poured some cold water on his DROY hopes when they said they planned to use him mostly as a receiver.
It still feels like the best way to utilize his unique skill set is to play him primarily at cornerback, which makes this an intriguing bet at long odds, but it'll be tough for him to compete if he plays less than half the time on defense.
💡 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 for this award. Decide how much you want to wager and place your bet on one or more players to win.
It's important to consider the value on the odds for different players. For example, if Abdul Carter is at +230 and Jalon Walker is at +600, Carter is favored to win. If you bet $100 on Carter at +230 and he wins, you’ll get $330 back in total ($230 profit + $100 stake). Keep an eye on how the rookies perform throughout the season to see how your bet is shaping up.
Keep in mind that the odds will move dramatically throughout the season based on performance and perception. If a rookie has a standout game, their odds will likely improve. Conversely, if they underperform or get hurt, 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.
Understanding these odds helps you make informed betting decisions and assess potential returns.
💰 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year betting history
| Season | Player | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Jared Verse, EDGE | Rams | +800 |
| 2023 | Will Anderson Jr., EDGE | Texans | +400 |
| 2022 | Sauce Gardner, CB | Jets | +1200 |
| 2021 | Micah Parsons, LB | Cowboys | +600 |
| 2020 | Chase Young, EDGE | Washington | +150 |
| 2019 | Nick Bosa, EDGE | 49ers | +700 |
| 2018 | Shaquille Leonard, LB | Colts | +3050 |
| 2017 | Marshon Lattimore, CB | Saints | N/A |
| 2016 | Joey Bosa, EDGE | Chargers | N/A |
| 2015 | Marcus Peters, CB | Chiefs | +3500 |
| 2014 | Aaron Donald, DT | Rams | +900 |
❓ NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year FAQs
Who is the favorite for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?
Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter opened as the betting favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with +230 odds. That implies a 30.30% chance that he'll win the award, according to our odds calculator.
Who was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last year?
Los Angeles Rams edge-rusher Jared Verse won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award after entering the season with +800 odds.
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 two years ago, it marked 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 NFL MVP?
Jim Brown is the only rookie to ever win NFL MVP. He won both Offensive Rookie of the Year and MVP in 1957 for the Cleveland Browns after leading the league with 942 rushing yards.
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