NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Outright Odds 2025

• NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award top favorite is Abdul Carter.
• Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, and Mike Green are next on the list.
• James Pierce Jr. looks like a potential dark horse.

New faces in the NFL are about to show their worth. Some of them are expected to make an immediate impact in their teams, especially the defenders. Let’s take a look at the top favorites for winning the NFL DROY.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Contenders

No need to say that all the eyes are pointed towards New York and the Giants’ DE Abdul Carter. The third pick from this year’s draft is by far the best defender in the class, and he should bring an immediate impact on the field. And he will be visible because the Giants don’t have a better defender.

Falcons’ LB, Jalon Walker, and the 49ers’ DE Mykel Williams are next on the list, with the Ravens’ LB Mike Green also sharing similar prospects. The one thing here that isn’t going in their favor is that their teams already have a defensive core, with experienced guys, so they won’t stand out that much.

Pearce Jr. and Mason Graham Longshots

The last sentence in the previous article applies particularly to Walker, because Atlanta added another monster in this year’s draft, DE James Pearce Jr. Those two will lead the Falcons’ defense in the year to come, and having such a good player on your team is good for the franchise, yet not for individual awards.

Check out more information and odds for other NFL awards

Mason Graham was the 5th pick overall, and he goes to Cleveland, where there is already one of the best defenders of today, Myles Garret, arguably the top contender for winning the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. He too won’t have much space to stand out.

Other Names in the Mix

Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter, the No. 2 pick who went to Jacksonville, is also on the list even though he might play as both CB and WR, as is LB Jihaad Campbell from Philly, and DE Shemar Stewart, who landed in Cincinnati.