Each season in the NFL, the attention after the NFL Draft is usually fixated on offensive players rather than defenders. But rookies on the defensive side of the ball can be just as impactful as their counterparts on offense. The Defensive Rookie of the Year race is set to be a fascinating one in 2024, after an NFL Draft where the first defensive player was not chosen until the 15th overall pick. Let’s check out the odds from our top NFL sportsbooks and see if we can find a couple of good bets in this futures market.
2024 AP DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD ODDS
| Player | Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds |
| Jared Verse | -200 |
| Quinyon Mitchell | +250 |
| Laiatu Latu | +1800 |
| Cooper DeJean | +2500 |
| Kamari Lassiter | +2500 |
| Braden Fiske | +2800 |
| Edgerrin Cooper | +2800 |
| Evan Williams | +2800 |
Jared Verse, Los Angeles Rams
One defensive end taken in the middle of the first round of the 2024 draft was Jared Verse out of Florida State. He joined the LA Rams, who have a huge void in the middle of their defensive line thanks to the retirement of Aaron Donald. Verse does not play the same position, and no player could replicate what Donald could do on the field. But Verse has been impactful early in his pro career and has made himself the odds-on favorite to win this award with his production so far.
Quinyon Mitchell, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles put a lot of their eggs into the basket of young defensive backs this season. So far that decision has paid off, as Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have both made an impact in their first seasons as pros. Mitchell is in the mix to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors, despite the fact that he doesn’t have an interception yet this year.
Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis Colts
The first defensive player taken in this year’s NFL Draft was Laiatu Latu, who was taken 15th overall by the Indianapolis Colts. Latu is another defensive end, which means he will be compared directly to Verse and Minnesota’s Dallas Turner in this year’s rookie class. He joins a Colts team that just missed out on the postseason last year. If Indy can do enough to get into the playoffs this season, Latu could be a big reason why and he could come away with this honor. He has a few sacks and a couple of forced fumbles this year and is behind Mitchell and Verse in this race so far.
Other Defensive Rookie of the Year Candidates
There are so many other players that still have a chance to win this award this season. Along with the defensive players listed above, Seahawks defensive tackle Byron Murphy II is in the mix for this award, as is Texans corner Kamari Lassiter. But there is plenty of football to be played all over the league this season and plenty of opportunities for players to make themselves candidates in this race.
2024 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Prediction
Our pick to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year is Jared Verse from the Los Angeles Rams. Aside from Verse playing some of his college football for my alma mater, the University at Albany, Verse brings a ton of talent to a defense that could certainly use it. He has made an immediate impact for the Rams as they look to become a more serious threat in the NFC after bowing out in the first round of last year’s postseason.
