2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds, Analysis & Favorites (Week 9 Update)

• After Week 8, Texans’ DE Will Anderson is +210 to win the NFL DPOY award.
• Niners LB Fred Warner is second at +625.
• 2021 winner TJ Watt is +1000.

All those who want to see the latest NFL odds can do that on the highlighted link. Also, here are our NFL ATS picks all in one place.

Award Context

• Defending Winner: Myles Garrett (Los Angeles Rams)
• Key Historical Trend: Edge rushers have dominated this honor, with winners over the past decade consistently recording at least 14.0 sacks and leading the league in pass-rush win rate.

2026 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Opening Odds

Player	Position	Team	Opening Odds
Will Anderson	DE	Houston Texans	+210
Fred Warner	LB	San Francisco 49ers	+625
Jeffrey Simmons	DT	Chicago Bears	+700
Aidan Hutchinson	DE	Detroit Lions	+900
TJ Watt	LB	Pittsburgh Steelers	+1000

Will Anderson Jr. +210

The Texans aren’t playing well, and their only bright spot is Will Anderson Jr. He currently leads the NFL with 7.5 sacks and creates enormous pressure on the rivals’ o-lines. Houston is 2-5 right now, but even so, the strong 25-year-old shines, leaving a strong impression despite his team’s issues. Regardless of whether the Texans reach the playoffs, Will Anderson Jr.’s odds for DPOY will be short.

Fred Warner +625

Now Warner didn’t record a whole sack. But you know what, he forced 4 fumbles so far, the most in the NFL, and the Niners are 6-1, sitting atop both the conference and the NFC West. Warner carries one of the best defenses in the league, which allows 19.9 ppg. Niners allow 89 rushing yards and are top 5 in that category, which is because of Warner as well.

Jeffrey Simmons +700

Now this guy looks more and more convincing as time goes by. In Week 8 Monday Night Football, where the Bears demolished the Super Bowl champs, the Seahawks, at Lumen, Simmons had 6 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for loss, and one pass deflection. Having a performance like this on national TV in prime time often boosts DPOY odds.

Aidan Hutchinson +900

If the Lions had slightly better defense, the former No.1 pick would be placed much higher on the list. Right now, Detroit allows 25.7 points and the most passing yards per game, and that kinda casts a shadow on Hutchinson’s excellent performances. But did you know the Lions have 24 sacks in 7 games, No. 3 in the NFL? Most of them came because of Hutchinson. Opposing teams double-team the strong LB, and rivals often leave more space for other Lions defenders. Btw, Hutchinson himself already recorded 5.

TJ Watt +1000

Even though he faces age, Watt is still a dominant, highly effective player with a massive impact on the game. The way he still moves the rivals in front of him is impressive. Watt is tied with Will Anderson Jr. for most sacks, both with 7.5, though he has one pick-six, which was in the opening week against the Falcons. Everyone loves seeing a veteran in the mix for any award, and TJ Watt fits that narrative perfectly.

NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award (DPOY)

The NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award (DPOY) is the ultimate individual defensive honor in professional football, awarded annually by the Associated Press (AP) to the league’s most dominant defender.

Presented officially at the annual NFL Honors ceremony, the award celebrates elite pass rushers, lockdown cornerbacks, and middle linebackers who systematically disrupt opposing offenses.

🏆 Eligibility and Voting Criteria

The AP NFL DPOY is determined under strict balloting guidelines ahead of the postseason:

• Regular Season Focus: Voting takes place immediately following Week 18. Postseason performances carry zero weight in determining the recipient.
• Voting Panel: Decided by a nationwide media panel of 50 sports writers, broadcasters, and football experts.
• Ranked-Choice System: Voters fill out a ranked-choice ballot (1st through 5th place), utilizing a weighted point scale (10-5-3-2-1) to select the winner.

🏈 Historical Milestones & Record Holders

• Most Wins (3): Lawrence Taylor, J.J. Watt, and Aaron Donald share the all-time record with 3 DPOY awards each.
• Single-Season Sack Record: Myles Garrett broke the all-time record in 2025 with 23.0 sacks.
• Inaugural AP Winner: Alan Page (1971, Minnesota Vikings).
• Unanimous Winners: J.J. Watt (2014) and Myles Garrett (2025) are the only unanimous Defensive Player of the Year winners in NFL history.

NFL DPOY Winners

Season	Player	Position	Team
2025	Myles Garrett	DE	Cleveland Browns
2024	Patrick Surtain II	CB	Denver Broncos
2023	Myles Garrett	DE	Cleveland Browns
2022	Nick Bosa	DE	San Francisco 49ers
2021	T. J. Watt	LB	Pittsburgh Steelers
2020	Aaron Donald	DT	Los Angeles Rams
2019	Stephon Gilmore	CB	New England Patriots
2018	Aaron Donald	DT	Los Angeles Rams
2017	Aaron Donald	DT	Los Angeles Rams
2016	Khalil Mack	DE	Oakland Raiders
2015	J. J. Watt	DE	Houston Texans
2014	J. J. Watt	DE	Houston Texans
2013	Luke Kuechly	LB	Carolina Panthers
2012	J. J. Watt	DE	Houston Texans
2011	Terrell Suggs	LB	Baltimore Ravens
2010	Troy Polamalu	S	Pittsburgh Steelers
2009	Charles Woodson	CB	Green Bay Packers
2008	James Harrison	LB	Pittsburgh Steelers
2007	Bob Sanders	S	Indianapolis Colts
2006	Jason Taylor	DE	Miami Dolphins
2005	Brian Urlacher	LB	Chicago Bears
2004	Ed Reed	S	Baltimore Ravens
2003	Ray Lewis	LB	Baltimore Ravens
2002	Derrick Brooks	LB	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2001	Michael Strahan	DE	New York Giants
2000	Ray Lewis	LB	Baltimore Ravens
1999	Warren Sapp	DT	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1998	Reggie White	DE	Green Bay Packers
1997	Dana Stubblefield	DT	San Francisco 49ers
1996	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo Bills
1995	Bryce Paup	LB	Buffalo Bills
1994	Deion Sanders	CB	San Francisco 49ers
1993	Rod Woodson	CB	Pittsburgh Steelers
1992	Cortez Kennedy	DT	Seattle Seahawks
1991	Pat Swilling	LB	New Orleans Saints
1990	Bruce Smith	DE	Buffalo Bills
1989	Keith Millard	DT	Minnesota Vikings
1988	Mike Singletary	LB	Chicago Bears
1987	Reggie White	DE	Philadelphia Eagles
1986	Lawrence Taylor	LB	New York Giants
1985	Mike Singletary	LB	Chicago Bears
1984	Kenny Easley	S	Seattle Seahawks
1983	Doug Betters	DE	Miami Dolphins
1982	Lawrence Taylor	LB	New York Giants
1981	Lawrence Taylor	LB	New York Giants
1980	Lester Hayes	CB	Oakland Raiders
1979	Lee Roy Selmon	DE	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1978	Randy Gradishar	LB	Denver Broncos
1977	Harvey Martin	DE	Dallas Cowboys
1976	Jack Lambert	LB	Pittsburgh Steelers
1975	Mel Blount	CB	Pittsburgh Steelers
1974	Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh Steelers
1973	Dick Anderson	S	Miami Dolphins
1972	Joe Greene	DT	Pittsburgh Steelers
1971	Alan Page	DT	Minnesota Vikings