Who do you think will win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award this season? Odds are on the board at BookMaker, with Denver’s Bradley Chubb and Chicago’s Roquan Smith the top betting choices. Chubb is listed at odds of +401, while Smith is listed at +451. Will one of those two players win the award or is there another player who could be a smart play at bigger odds? Let’s take a look.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds
Bradley Chubb +401
Roquan Smith +451
Minkah Fitzpatrick +1213
Derwin James +1213
Denzel Ward +1213
Marcus Davenport +1558
Rashaan Evans +1620
Jaire Alexander +1911
Leighton Vander Esch +2033
Josh Jackson +2033
Harold Landry +2033
Vita Vea +2550
Terrell Edmunds +2550
Carlton Davis +3071
Da'Ron Payne +3071
Uchenna Nwosu +3071
Darius Leonard +3071
Donte Jackson +3071
Kemoko Turay +3596
Isaiah Oliver +3596
Jessie Bates +3596
MJ Stewart +3596
Taven Bryan +3596
Mike Hughes +4000
Maurice Hurst +6600
Field - Any Other Player +2000
Favorites
There is a good reason that Chubb is listed as the favorite. He plays opposite Von Miller and should get a lot of one-on-one coverage. He is 6-4, 269 pounds and has been compared favorably to Oakland’s Khalil Mack. The only concern with taking Chubb is that Miller will steal the spotlight with Denver and Chubb won’t get as much attention from the media.
Smith is considered a major difference maker for the Bears, but as of today he has not even signed. He is the only first round pick not to sign and even if he signs right now he will be behind everyone else and rookies badly need training camp. I think Smith is overvalued simply because of his holdout.
Darkhorses
You can make a case for Denzel Ward of the Cleveland Browns winning this award. He plays on a defense that is going to be on the field a lot and Ward showed at Ohio State that he has all of the physical skills to be an excellent cornerback.
Another cornerback that could be worth a strong look is Minkah Fitzpatrick of the Miami Dolphins. He is already being considered the best defender on the Miami Dolphins. That is high prize for a rookie, but Fitzpatrick looks to be the real deal.
Longshots
Marcus Davenport of the New Orleans Saints is at least worth considering because he has the tools to put up some good sack numbers as a rookie. He will be opposite Cam Jordan and should get some good chances to impress.
Jaire Alexander was the top pick of the Green Bay Packers and he is expected to immediately take over as the Packers top cornerback. He will get a lot of chances to impress in the NFC North and Alexander has some appeal at odds of nearly 20-1.
I also have to mention a big longshot who is starting to get some attention. It is Maurice Hurst of the Oakland Raiders. He is a fifth round pick from Michigan that fell in the draft. He will be playing with a great player in Khalil Mack and he should get a lot of chance to make big plays with defenses focused on Mack.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Picks
I don’t see much value in either of the two favorites. Chubb could definitely win the award, but I am not betting him at odds of 4-1 and Smith isn’t even in camp yet. I like the value we are getting with Fitzpatrick at odds of +1213 and I would make him my top pick. I also think Alexander is worth a look at odds of +1911. The Packers are going to be in the spotlight a lot and it always helps a player if he gets more national TV attention and that should be the case with Green Bay this season.
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