The draft is over and after all seven rounds were completed, DraftKings and SugarHouse Sportsbooks in New Jersey released NFL odds to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2019. Second overall pick Nick Bosa is the +700 favorite, followed by Josh Allen (+800), Devin White (+800) and Quinnen Williams (+900).

We break down the odds for NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and look at some players who represent value to sports bettors.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds (SugarHouse)

Nick Bosa the Early Favorite

While Bosa is the early favorite to win Defensive ROY, the odds are much closer than the offensive side of the ball where Kyler Murray is +260 to win the award. On offense, only four players (Murray, Dwayne Haskins, Marquise Brown and Josh Jacobs) have odds of 12/1 or shorter. On defense, the number of players with odds of 12/1 or shorter doubles to eight, so oddsmakers expect the race for Defensive ROY to be much more competitive.

The Offensive ROY award has been dominated by quarterbacks and running backs throughout the year. On the defensive side, one would think the award comes down to sacks or interceptions but that hasn’t been the case in recent years. Linebackers have dominated Defensive ROY over the last two decades. Since 2000, a linebacker has won the award 12 times, including last season when the Colts’ Darius Leonard took home Defensive ROY.

Bosa, Allen and Williams are listed among the three favorites but defensive linemen typically don’t win Defensive ROY. Since 2000, only three defensive ends and two defensive tackles have won the award. However, the one defensive end to win Defensive ROY since 2002 was Nick’s brother, Joey Bosa, in 2016. The position least likely to win? Safety. The last time a safety won Defensive ROY was Mark Carrier back in 1990.

Best Bets on the Board

For more general NFL betting information, check out our NFL Football betting tips page.

As I stated above, linebackers are the best bet when it comes to Defensive ROY. Two were selected in the Top 10: Devin White (+800) and Devin Bush (+1000). I really like the fit with Bush and the Steelers. Linebackers are asked to do a lot in Pittsburgh’s 3-4 defense and Bush will step in as a starter right away. Bush’s speed will allow him to rack up tackles and he’ll also have the opportunity to record some sacks in Pittsburgh’s blitz-heavy scheme. He was the best coverage LB available in this year’s draft. Bush is my favorite play to win Defensive ROY at 10/1.

The other player I really like is Allen at +800. The Jaguars got a steal when Allen fell to the No. 7 pick. Allen recorded 31.5 sacks and 42 tackles for losses in his college career at Kentucky. Jacksonville’s defense took a step back last season but they still have talent in the front seven with DE Calais Campbell, DT Marcell Dareus and LB Telvin Smith. Look for Allen to make an immediate impact playing OLB and DE in Jacksonville’s defense.

Longshot to Consider

Most people were so busy slamming the New York Giants for selecting Daniel Jones at No. 6, they might not have noticed the team got a steal in Deandre Baker later in the first round. How good was Baker in college? He didn’t allow a touchdown pass in his last two seasons at Georgia. The same Georgia that plays in the SEC conference. Baker was also Pro Football Weekly’s third ranked corner in press coverage last season.

The Giants badly need corners and Baker should start Week 1 versus the Cowboys. A cornerback has won Defensive ROY two of the last four years. Baker could be next in line. He’s good value at +2800.

Defensive Rookie of the Year Picks

Josh Allen +800
Devin Bush +1000
Deandre Baker +2800