Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books, and now there’s a new favorite at the top of the oddsboard to win Defensive Player of the Year.
T.J. Watt has taken pole position at +400. His odds surged up the board from +850 less than a week ago.
In the Steelers‘ first game of the season — an 18-10 win over Atlanta — Watt had four total tackles and one sack.
Here’s a list of some of the favorites to win 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year via DraftKings Sportsbook.
NFL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR*
T.J. Watt, Steelers: +400 (bet $10 to win $50 total)
Micah Parsons, Cowboys: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Nick Bosa, 49ers: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Myles Garrett, Browns: +900 (bet $10 to win $100 total)
Maxx Crosby, Raiders: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Aidan Hutchinson, Lions: +1100 (bet $10 to win $120 total)
Chris Jones, Chiefs: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)
Josh Hines-Allen, Jaguars: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total)
Kyle Hamilton, Ravens: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Danielle Hunter, Texans: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
Will Anderson Jr., Texans: +3500 (bet $10 to win $360 total)
* odds as of 9/10/24
Brou grades the Cowboys’ 33-17 victory over the Browns
Next on the board is Micah Parsons, a close second at +450.
The Dallas Cowboys’ dynamic linebacker has finished second in DPOY voting twice but has not quite been able to get over the hump to emerge as the league’s top vote-getter.
According to Pro Football Focus, in 2023, Parsons had 34 solo tackles, assisted in 16 and recorded 16 sacks.
“Micah has always been in that conversation about Defensive Player of the Year during the preseason, so I’m not surprised at all,” “Speak” co-host Keyshawn Johnson said after the early lines were released during the summer.
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Third on the list is San Francisco’s Nick Bosa. FOX Sports NFL reporter Eric Williams said that, in 2024, “Bosa remains the engine that leads San Francisco’s potent pass rush.”
Fourth is Myles Garrett at +900. Over the last several days, his odds lengthened slightly from +700.
FOX Sports NFL reporter Henry McKenna wrote about Garrett’s strengths: “There’s no edge defender that you can set and forget quite like Garrett. He does everything you could possibly want. He’s as big, quick, fast and strong as you could possibly need. He’s sort of old school: a true defensive end.”
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Further down the board is Houston’s Danielle Hunter at +3500.
In September, FOX Sports NFL writers ranked Hunter as the seventh-best NFL pass rusher heading into the 2024 season, and FOX Sports reporter Ben Arthur called him a “true pass-rush specialist.”
“For as dominant as Hunter has been throughout his career, it feels like he’s slid under the radar a bit,” Arthur wrote. “That should change in Houston, which boasts one of the NFL’s most hyped teams entering 2024 and is a legit Super Bowl contender. He joins the Texans — his hometown team — coming off a career-high 16.5 sacks in his age-29 season with the Minnesota Vikings and will now join forces with reigning AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson Jr., one of the top young edge rushers in football.”
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Corners and safeties have scarcely been recipients over the years, as just 10 defensive have won the DPOY since 1971. Stephon Gilmore was the last winner while with the New England Patriots in 2019. And if the odds are any indication, that trend seems set to continue in 2024.
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