NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds 2025: Top Betting Picks to Watch

Rookies across the NFL are finally set to report to their team’s training camp in just a few weeks.

Plays were installed during minicamp and OTAs, so now the real competition is ready to start. Who should you be looking at to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?

Let’s take a look at some of the best betting picks. All odds via FanDuel.

Abdul Carter (+200)

There’s not a ton of value betting on the favorite to win this award, but Carter is set up for instant success during his rookie season with the New York Giants.

Brian Burns will line up on the opposite side of Carter and should be a major help in freeing up the rookie to get after the quarterback. During his time at Penn State, Carter didn’t have the luxury of playing with a talent like Burns—or with nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, who has become a defensive cornerstone and was recently ranked the No. 1 DT in the NFL.

The Giants might not be a contender this season, but they should generate pressure up front, which is imperative for Carter to build a case for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Travis Hunter (+1000)

Is there a world where Hunter could win both NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year?

It feels possible in today’s media-driven landscape.

If the do-it-all Heisman winner ends up with a few interceptions and scores a handful of offensive touchdowns, the Jacksonville Jaguars may have landed the most impactful player in the draft on both sides of the ball.

Shemar Stewart (+2100)

Let’s get a little wild.

Stewart has been surrounded by controversy in Ohio and beyond, with the Cincinnati Bengals reportedly holding firm on specific contract language that Stewart wants in his rookie deal. As of now, he still hasn’t signed.

Assuming this gets resolved—and Stewart doesn’t sit out the year, which would make him eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft—he has the chance to make a serious impact when he sees the field in Cincinnati.

You’d have to imagine that Bengals ownership will find a way to take care of Trey Hendrickson. They figured it out with Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase. If they’re serious about competing for a Super Bowl, they’ll let Stewart sign a standard rookie deal and bring Hendrickson back.

Hendrickson demands double teams. The Bengals defense was bad last year. If they improve and return to being an AFC power, Stewart could become a dark horse for this award.