The 2026 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds are taking shape as the draft class settles into their new teams.
Sharp Football follows this market throughout the year, using snap count data, role development, and scheme fit to identify which rookies are worth backing before the sportsbooks catch up.
Full odds board and best bet below.
2026 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds to Win
| Player | Team | Current Odds |
|---|---|---|
| David Bailey | New York Jets | +450 |
| Rueben Bain Jr. | Tampa Bay Bucs | +550 |
| Arvell Reese | New York Giants | +650 |
| Sonny Styles | Washington Commanders | +750 |
| Caleb Downs | Dallas Cowboys | +750 |
| Mansoor Delane | Kansas City Chiefs | +1000 |
| Akheem Mesidor | Los Angeles Chargers | +1600 |
| Malachi Lawrence | Dallas Cowboys | +1800 |
| Dillon Thieneman | Chicago Bears | +2000 |
| Jacob Rodriguez | Miami Dolphins | +2200 |
| CJ Allen | Indianapolis Colts | +2200 |
Who is most likely to win the 2026 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?
David Bailey is the current favorite to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year at +450 odds. He is followed by:
- Rueben Bain Jr. (+550)
- Arvell Reese (+650)
- Sonny Styles (+750)
- Caleb Downs (+750)
Best Bet to Win the 2026 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jacob Rodriguez (+2200)
Rodriguez has a lot in common with 2025 winner Carson Schwesinger.
He has a path to immediate playing time for a bad team, which could allow him to accumulate massive stats as he did in college.
In fact, NFL.com's Lance Zierlein had Schwesinger as Rodriguez's NFL comparison in his scouting report.
In this wide-open market, it makes sense to take some shots on longer odds at this point in the offseason, and we have a very recent example of how a player like Rodriguez could end up with the DROY trophy.
NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Betting Trends
- Defensive Rookie of the Year has been an EDGE player in 5 of the last 7 seasons, including Jared Verse in 2024.
- Defensive Rookie of the Year has been an off-ball linebacker in 2 of the last 10 seasons, including Carson Schwesinger last season.
- Defensive Rookie of the Year has been a cornerback in 2 of the last 10 seasons, including Sauce Gardner in 2022.
- Aaron Donald was the last defensive tackle to win the award back in 2014.
