NFL Defensive Player of the Year Odds 2026
The race for NFL Defensive Player of the Year came to a close with Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett claiming the title.
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Garrett, already one of the premier pass rushers in the NFL, had a banner year and saw a record-setting season with 23 sacks. In his nine seasons, Garrett has a total of 125.5 sacks and has been one of the most dominating players in the league.
As Garrett racked up sacks throughout the season, he became one of the betting favorites to win the award. He also earned the award after the 2023-24 eason.
Other favorites included Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. and Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto. The following is a look at how the betting on the award went throughout the season and this page will be updated before the 2026-27 season begins.
Best Sportsbooks for NFL Defensive Player of the Year
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings offers NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting throughout the season, allowing bettors to wager on which defender will earn one of the league’s most prestigious individual awards. Futures markets are available before the season begins and continue to update as top defenders build their cases throughout the year.
Defensive Player of the Year betting often focuses on elite pass rushers, dominant linebackers, and playmaking defensive backs who consistently impact games. Sacks, turnovers, tackles, and overall defensive influence can all play significant roles in shaping the award race and the betting market.
Key Features:
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year futures
- Extensive NFL awards betting markets
- Same-game parlays and season-long wagers
- Comprehensive defensive statistical leader markets
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Many notable features on offer
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FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel features NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting on many of the league’s top defensive stars. The market remains active throughout the season as candidates compete for one of football’s most respected honors.
Odds are adjusted regularly based on sacks, turnovers, team success, and weekly performances. FanDuel also offers a broad selection of NFL futures that complement award betting opportunities.
Key Features:
- Competitive Defensive Player of the Year odds
- User-friendly futures betting platform
- Broad NFL awards menu
- Frequent football odds boosts
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BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGMÂ offers NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting with futures available before and during the season. Bettors can back established defensive superstars or identify emerging candidates poised for breakout campaigns.
The sportsbook updates odds throughout the season as award contenders separate themselves from the field. These markets reward bettors who recognize elite defensive performance before odds shorten significantly.
Key Features:
- Extensive NFL award betting markets
- Regular odds updates throughout the season
- Strong futures betting coverage
- Wide variety of player markets
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Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook provides NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting as part of its comprehensive football futures lineup. Bettors can wager on leading candidates before Week 1 or follow the race throughout the regular season.
Award odds often fluctuate based on production, injuries, and team success as the season progresses. Caesars regularly updates the market to reflect changes among the NFL’s top defenders.
Key Features:
- NFL Defensive Player of the Year futures
- Caesars Rewards integration
- Multiple NFL award categories
- Comprehensive football betting menu
bet365 Sportsbook
features NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting alongside one of the deepest football betting menus available. Bettors can follow award contenders while also exploring conference, division, and statistical leader futures.
The sportsbook offers numerous season-long betting opportunities tied to player performance and defensive achievements. Odds are updated consistently as the race develops throughout the season.
Key Features:
- Extensive NFL futures markets
- Deep player award betting options
- Strong live betting functionality
- Numerous alternate betting markets
BetRivers Sportsbook
BetRivers offers NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting throughout the season with futures available on many of the league’s premier defenders. Bettors can track award candidates while also exploring related player and team futures.
The market appeals to bettors who closely follow defensive statistics and impact players across the league. BetRivers updates odds regularly to reflect evolving performances and award momentum.
Key Features:
- Competitive Defensive Player of the Year odds
- Easy-to-use sportsbook interface
- Strong NFL futures coverage
- Multiple season-long betting markets
Hard Rock Bet
Hard Rock Bet offers NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting as part of its growing football futures portfolio. Bettors can place wagers on players expected to dominate on the defensive side of the ball throughout the season.
Week 17 NFL Defensive POTY Odds Report
| Player | Current Odds to Win NFL DPOTY | Odds to WinNFL DPOTY Entering Week 8 | Odds to WinNFL DPOTY Entering Week 6 | Odds to WinNFL DPOTY EnteringWeek 4 | Preseason Odds to Win NFL DPOTY |
| Micah Parsons (Packers) | NR | +165 | +360 | +340 | +850 |
| Aidan Hutchinson (Lions) | +40000 | +380 | +320 | +600 | +850 |
| Nik Bonitto (Broncos) | +7500 | +550 | +450 | +1500 | +9000 |
| Myles Garrett (Browns) | -20000 | +650 | +500 | +360 | +750 |
| Will Anderson Jr. (Texans) | +7500 | +900 | +1800 | +1200 | +1200 |
| Jared Verse (Rams) | +15000 | +1800 | +2700 | +1900 | +2500 |
| T.J. Watt (Steelers) | NR | +2700 | +2500 | +2500 | +750 |
| Brian Burns (Giants) | +15000 | +3000 | +4000 | +6000 | +7500 |
The Favorites (through Week 17)
Myles Garrett (-20000) – DE – Cleveland Browns
Myles Garrett is now a huge favorite to capture another Defensive Player of the Year award. Garrett has looked unstoppable through much of the season, racking up 22 sacks and reminding everyone why he is one of the most feared defenders in football.
Garrett’s combination of size, speed, and raw power makes him a nightmare for any offensive tackle, and he consistently draws double teams and chips that free up opportunities for his teammates.
That sort of attention often prevents him from filling up the stat sheet, but it also speaks to the level of respect he commands from opponents on a weekly basis. Garrett offers a balance of proven and seems a shoo-in for the Defensive Player of the Year chase.
Best NFL DPOTY Betting Odds: DraftKings Sportsbook (-20000)
Will Anderson Jr. (+7500) – EDGE – Houston Texans
The Texans’ defense is elite and the man leading the charge is former Alabama product Will Anderson Jr.
Anderson has seen his sack total lower than some other major contenders on this list, but the impact he has on one of the better defensive units in football cannot go unnoticed.
Given how Houston started the season, however, it will take a truly incredible performance by Anderson and the Texans defense as a whole down the stretch to make him a more serious candidate for the honors.
Best NFL DPOTY Betting Odds:BetMGM Sportsbook (+7500)
Nik Bonitto (+7500) – EDGE – Denver Broncos
In what has become one of the wildest storylines in the NFL futures market this season, Broncos pass-rush specialist Nik Bonitto has gone from an afterthought to a legitimate Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Bonitto entered 2025 priced as a +9000 longshot to win the award and went on to rack up eight sacks in the first seven games.
As a result, his odds have skyrocketed all the way to +550 at one point but now sit +7500. Bonitto has been a constant presence in opposing backfields, flashing the same speed and bend around the edge that reminded many of former Broncos great Elvis Dumervil. At only 24 years old, he looks every bit the part of Denver’s next defensive star.
Best NFL DPOTY Betting Odds: FanDuel Sportsbook (+7500)
How is the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award Decided?
Each season, the Associated Press, known by many as the AP, gives out the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award to the defensive player they believe has performed the best throughout the course of the regular season.
A panel of 50 sportswriters and media members rank their top five choices for the award at the end of each NFL season, with the winner being the player who receives the most votes as determined by where they are slotted in each respective writer or media member’s top five.
In other words, the more first place votes a player receives, the higher the likelihood they will be named NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award is a special recognition for all those hard-working athletes on the side of the football that don’t get quite as much love as those guys who play offense. It would take a monumental season for a defensive player to win the NFL MVP award, so this is the closest thing to that honor on the defensive side of the football.
As we mentioned above, unlike the MVP and OPOY awards which basically go to any three positions (QB, RB, WR) on offense each season, the DPOY award is much more wide open.
Dating back to the 2000 season, here’s a position by position breakdown showing who has brought home this award over the last 26 seasons of NFL action.
| Position | DPOY Awards Won Since 2000 |
| Defensive End / EDGE | 10 |
| Defensive Tackle | 6 |
| Linebacker | 5 |
| Defensive Back | 5 |
As you can see, relentless pass rushers, tackle machines at linebacker, and lockdown corners are all in the mix to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Recent NFL Defensive Player of the Year 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 |
How To Bet On The NFL Defensive Player Of The Year
To bet on the DPOY award, you must:
- Log into your sportsbook.
- Look for the NFL betting odds tab.
- Click on the ‘Players Futures’ category.
- Select the DPOY award to display the odds.
- Choose the player you want to wager on.
- Submit it from the bet slip window on the right-hand side of the screen.
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Editor’s Note: All odds were correct at the time of writing. All odds, unless otherwise stated, are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
