Defensive Rookie of the Year odds after the NFL Draft

We’re through the 2020 NFL Draft, and rookies have seen their odds to win Defensive Rookie of the Year change after being selected. It’ll be tough for anyone to challenge Washington’s Chase Young for the award, but let’s take a look at the field. We take a look at the odds of the favorites, risers, fallers, and sleepers at DraftKings Sportsbook.

Favorites

Chase Young, +200

Young has long been regarded as the most complete and pro-ready defensive prospect in the draft. His pre-draft odds of +300 were the best in the field and have gotten even better. Two Ohio State defensive ends have won the award in the last five seasons. Young, who is expected to become a perennial All-Pro talent, has a good chance to dominate and keep the legacy alive.

Isaiah Simmons, +500

Simmons’ pre-draft odds (+600) improved a little after joining the Arizona Cardinals as the No. 8 pick. His range could allow him to be effective in helping him put together some interesting stat lines. He can rush the quarterback and also excels at defending the pass. But will being a jack of all trades stop him from putting up the gaudy numbers people like to see?

Patrick Queen, +900

Queen plugs in as a starter on a Baltimore Ravens team that was top five against the rush last season. His +1100 pre-draft odds have climbed, but will his impact be evident while playing alongside Matthew Judon and Calais Campbell in the trenches? He needs to stands out on a defense that’s already good. It can be done, but it’s not easy.

Risers

Damon Arnette, +4000

Arnette’s odds moved from +10000 to +4000 after the Las Vegas Raiders unexpectedly drafted him in the first round. This pick was a reach, and he’s set up for failure. He could very well be the Raiders top cornerback as a rookie, which means he could have to go up against the likes of Tyreek Hill and Keenan Allen in conference play. Defensive backs don’t win this award often as rookies, so if he doesn’t record eight interceptions like Marcus Peters did in 2015, he probably won’t have a shot.

Kyle Dugger, +3300

The Patriots have the reigning DPOY in Stephon Gilmore and Duggar might not even start. The safety was a second-round pick out of a Division II and saw his odds improve from +5000 to +3300 after he was drafted. The Patriots’ secondary is loaded with talented players like the McCourty twins and Patrick Chung, which doesn’t bode well for Dugger.

Fallers

Jefferey Okudah, +1600

Okudah was the second defensive player off the board when the Detroit Lions selected him with the No. 2 pick. His odds worsened from +1400 after being drafted, but he could benefit from playing opposite Desmond Trufant by getting more favorable matchups. He doesn’t get a ton of interceptions, so it could hard for him to finish toward the top of the rookie DPOY race.

Xavier McKinney, +3300

McKinney was +2000 ahead of the draft and was considered the top safety prospect. The New York Giants got him in the second round and he will join a secondary that made several key additions to its secondary this offseason. It’ll be hard for him to make a case as his team’s third best defensive back.

Sleeper

Willie Gay Jr., +2000

Gay’s odds went from +3300 to +2000 after joining the Kansas City Chiefs. He’s a freak athlete and might emerge as Kansas City’s top linebacker in year one. He’ll benefit from his team’s spotlight and can also do it all on the defensive end. His solo tackle numbers weren’t great in college and need to improve though.

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