The NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds are stacked with pass rushers, including single-season sack record holder Myles Garrett, who was traded to the Los Angeles Rams back in June.
Garrett is going for his second straight and third overall Defensive Player of the Year award in 2026-27, and he's seen his NFL odds shorten following the blockbuster deal.
- Key Takeaways:
- Garrett goes Hollywood
- Anderson Jr. headlines elite Texans unit
- Third-degree Burns?
NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds
| Player Name | Probability |
|---|---|
| Myles Garrett | 20% |
 Will Anderson Jr. |
17% |
| Aidan Hutchinson | 12% |
| Nik Bonitto | 6% |
| Maxx Crosby | 5% |
| Nick Bosa | 4% |
| Abdul Carter | 4% |
| T.J. Watt | 4% |
| Trey Hendrickson | 4% |
| Danielle Hunter | 3% |
Odds as of 9-3. Percentages courtesy of Kalshi.
Kalshi is a regulated financial exchange where you trade on real-world event outcomes. Instead of traditional odds, prices are listed as percentages (0-100%), representing the market’s estimated probability of an event occurring.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year favorites
Myles Garrett is coming off a record-setting 23 sacks last season and will look to put together another stat-stuffing campaign, this time with a winning team around him after joining the Los Angeles Rams (and now future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald).
Will Anderson Jr. is another name to watch after finishing second to Garrett in last year’s DPOY voting. The Houston Texans edge rusher led the league in QB hurries and recorded three forced fumbles in 2025, pacing one of the NFL's top defenses.
Not among the frontrunners is New York Giants outside linebacker Brian Burns, but he should be after recording 16.5 sacks last season, second only to Garrett.
Burns also finished Top 5 among all edge rushers in pass-rush win rate on third down last season. With New York expected to contend for a playoff spot following its coaching staff overhaul, his odds could shorten quickly if the Giants start stacking wins early.
Along with backing Garrett, I wouldn't mind taking a shot on Burns before Week 1.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year futures predictions
| Pick | Odds | Pick date | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myles Garrett | 20% | Aug. 1 | 2.5 |
| Brian Burns | 2% | Aug. 1 | 0.5 |
Popular NFL futures markets
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NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting trends
• Since this award was first given out in 1974, eight defensive players have claimed this award more than once. However, no defensive back has ever won it multiple times.
• While voters for the NFL MVP Award seem to take team success into the equation, the same hasn't necessarily been true for DPOY accolades. Five of the last 10 winners of the DPOY award were on defenses that ranked outside the Top 10.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year history
Here's a look at the recent award history (preseason favorite and winner odds courtesy of Sports Odds History):
| Year | NFL DPOY Award Winner | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Myles Garrett | DE |
| 2024 | Patrick Surtain II | CB |
| 2023 | Myles Garrett | DE |
| 2022 | Nick Bosa | DE |
| 2021 | T.J. Watt | Edge |
| 2020 | Aaron Donald | DT |
| 2019 | Stephon Gilmore | CB |
| 2018 | Aaron Donald | DT |
| 2017 | Aaron Donald | DT |
| 2016 | Khalil Mack | Edge |
| 2015 | J.J. Watt | DE |
| 2014 | J.J. Watt | DE |
| 2013 | Luke Kuechly | LB |
| 2012 | J.J. Watt | DE |
| 2011 | Terrell Suggs | Edge |
| 2010 | Troy Polamalu | S |
| 2009 | Charles Woodson | DB |
| 2008 | James Harrison | Edge |
| 2007 | Bob Sanders | S |
| 2006 | Jason Taylor | Edge |
| 2005 | Brian Urlacher | LB |
| 2004 | Ed Reed | S |
| 2003 | Ray Lewis | LB |
| 2002 | Derrick Brooks | LB |
| 2001 | Michael Strahan | DE |
| 2000 | Ray Lewis | LB |
NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners by position
| Position | Number of DPOY awards |
|---|---|
| Linebacker | 17 |
| Defensive end | 14 |
| Defensive tackle | 10 |
| Cornerback | 7 |
| Safety | 5 |
Linebackers have historically dominated this honor, and only two defensive backs have taken home the award in the last 10 seasons.