2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds – Favorites, Value Bets and Sleepers to Win: The rise of fantasy football tends to give most of the love to the players on the offensive side of the ball, but defense wins championships isn’t just a catchphrase. No team is going very far without a defense that can either shut down opponents or produce big plays and turnovers, and in honor of the forgotten side of the ball, it is time to take a closer look at the top candidates for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award head of the 2019 season.
Inside linebackers have had a leg up on the competition, winning the award in seven of the last 15 seasons. Coming off the board early in the draft has also helped, and 11 of the last 12 winners have been selected in the first round with 10 of those being top-15 selections. At the end of the day, being picked early usually translates to immediate playing time, and playing time translates into production.
2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds: Favorites, Value Bets and Sleepers to Win
The Favorites
Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers (+500)
Fair or not, voters always gravitate towards players who production shows up on paper. In the modern NFL, sacks and quarterback pressures are what defenses are looking for, and Bosa comes armed with an NFL-ready body and an array of pass-rushing techniques that a veteran would be jealous of. A double-digit sack campaign is not out of the question, and if that happens, Defensive Rookie of the Year honors should follow.
Quinnen Williams, DT, New York Jets (+600)
Arguably the most talented player in the 2019 draft, Williams is set to be an absolute game-wrecker in the middle of an already solid defensive front. He is one of the rare interior linemen who has the burst to put pressure on quarterbacks and make plays in the backfield, not just clog up running lanes with his size and strength.
Devin White, ILB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+600)
White has drawn nothing but rave reviews since showing up in Tampa, and his athleticism and instincts will allow him to be an every-down, sideline-to-sideline linebacker from Day 1. It should also allow him to push for triple-digit tackles, which is another easy stat for voters to visualize as production and value on the field.
Value Bets
Devin Bush, ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers (+700)
Busch is on track to do for the Pittsburgh defense what Devin White is set to do for Tampa Bay’s unit, and the two players grade out similarly in terms of both size and athleticism. If anything, Bush may be hurt by the fact that the Steelers are a better team and might not have as many garbage-time tackles available, but as a starting middle linebacker, he should every opportunity to pile up tackles and make a run at DROY honors in his own right.
Ed Oliver, DT, Buffalo Bills (+800)
The Bills quietly boasted one of the strongest defensive units in the league last year, and Oliver will be planted right in the middle of it in 2019. He’s been compared to Aaron Donald with his ability to terrorize the backfield from the defensive tackle spot, and if he has even 25 percent of the impact of Donald this season, he is going to be firmly in the mix for the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Josh Allen, OLB, Jacksonville Jaguars (+900)
Allen was a force of the edge and a sack artist at the collegiate level, and the Jaguars plan to unleash him in the same role. Whether he develops into an every-down force doesn’t really matter when it comes to DROY honors. If Allen can get to the quarterback and finish as the rookie leader in sacks, it will be enough to win over voters.
Sleeper Special
Dexter Lawrence, DT, New York Giants (+5000)
I’ll be surprised if the eventual winner doesn’t come from the players I’ve already touched on, but if I am taking a flier on a longshot, I like Lawrence. For one, he offers a lot of room for profit at +5000. He was also a top-20 pick, so he pedigree and production speak for themselves. I also like that the Giants have been taking advantage of his agility for his size, giving him some snaps and defensive end as well as defensive tackle. If Lawrence ends up staying on the field in passing situations and picks up some sacks and pressures, it will help grab the attention of voters who could come to appreciate his dominance against the run in the process.
2019 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds
Nick Bosa +750
Devin Bush +500
Devin White +800
Quinnen Williams +1000
Montez Sweat +1600
Ed Oliver +1600
Josh Allen (JAC) +1600
Clelin Ferrell +2200
Brian Burns +2200
Chase Winovich +2500
Rashan Gary +2500
Bobby Okereke +3000
Jerry Tillery +3000
Darnell Savage +3300
Jahlani Tavai +3500
Deandre Baker +3500
Johnathan Abram +3500
Deionte Thompson +4000
Greedy Williams +4000
Rock Ya-Sin +4000
Marquise Blair +4000
Sione Takitaki +4000
Christian Wilkins +4000
Byron Murphy +4500
Nasir Adderley +4500
Jachai Polite +4500
Jaylon Ferguson +5000
Germaine Pratt +5000
Joejuan Williams +5000
Juan Thornhill +2500
Justin Layne +5000
L.J. Collier +5000
Lonnie Johnson Jr +5000
Taylor Rapp +5000
Trayvon Mullen +5000
Zach Allen +5000
Ben Banogu +5000
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson +5000
David Long (LAR) +5000
Dexter Lawrence +5000
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