Will Anderson Jr. the Early Favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year

Texans’ No. 3 pick opens at +350, followed by Jalen Carter and Tyree Wilson at +800.

With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror, it’s time to lock in some early futures value for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Last year’s winner, Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner, opened at +1000 to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. We recommended that pick and hope you enjoyed the 10-to-1 payout. There is another cornerback at +1000 odds to open the season and a cornerback has taken home the award three times in the last 10 years, but oddsmakers have four edge defenders among the favorites.

Let’s take a closer look.

Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports

Houston’s Will Anderson Jr. is the current favorite at +350. The Texans traded up to nab Anderson at pick number three, indicating new head coach DeMeco Ryans sees an immediate need for the star edge rusher out of Alabama. Houston’s defense can only get better. Anderson, who racked up 207 total pressures in three years at Alabama, will be in a position to make an instant impact for the Texans.

Jalen Carter (+800) fell to the Eagles at pick nine, despite some red flags off the field. It’s those red flags that could earn you some value here at 8-to-1 odds. If the Eagles are correct and Carter’s issues are behind him, the Georgia defensive tackle who racked up 32 total pressures from 273 pass-rushing snaps for Georgia in 2022 could be a difference-maker for an Eagles team that is the favorite to win the NFC East.

Also coming in at +800 is Raiders edge rusher Tyree Wilson, whom Las Vegas drafted with the seventh pick in Round 1. The Texas Tech product will get to chase around fellow Red Raider alum Patrick Mahomes twice a year.

Cornerback Christian Gonzalez (+1000) fell to the Patriots at pick 17 despite being the top cornerback on many boards. Lukas Van Ness (+1200) will be the new edge defender for the Packers and was selected at pick 13. Emmanuel Forbes (+1400) joins the Commanders after a three-year career at Mississippi State with 14 interceptions and 17 pass breakups. Nolan Smith (+1600) was the 30th pick to the Eagles and could be undersized as an edge defender in the NFL (he’ll also have to compete with teammate Jalen Carter for the award).

Current odds for Defensive Rookie of the Year:

Will Anderson Jr. +350
Jalen Carter +800
Tyree Wilson +800
Christian Gonzalez +1000
Lukas Van Ness +1200
Emmanuel Forbes +1400
Nolan Smith +1600
Will McDonald IV +2000
Myles Murphy +2000
Joey Porter Jr. +2000
Jack Campbell +2000
Felix Anudike-Uzomah +2000
Drew Sanders +2000
Deonte Banks +2000
Brian Branch +2000

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