🏈 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Odds 2026: Bailey, Bain, Reese Open as Favorites
Following Round 1 of the 2026 NFL Draft, New York Jets pass rusher David Bailey opened as the favorite by the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds. Bailey, the second overall pick out of Texas Tech, has +470 odds to win DROY.
Not far behind Bailey are a pair of versatile pass rushers in Tampa Bay Buccaneers No. 15 pick Rueben Bain Jr. (+500) and New York Giants No. 5 pick Arvell Reese (+700). Both were selected later than many draftniks expected.
Just three other players opened with shorter than +2000 odds to win NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year: Kansas City Chiefs No. 6 pick Mansoor Delane (+850), Washington Commanders No. 7 pick Sonny Styles (+850), and Dallas Cowboys No. 11 pick Caleb Downs (+850).
📊 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds 2026
2026 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds via our best sports betting sites.
| Player | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| David Bailey | +470 | 17.5% |
| Rueben Bain Jr. | +500 | 16.7% |
| Arvell Reese | +700 | 12.5% |
| Sonny Styles | +850 | 10.5% |
| Caleb Downs | +850 | 10.5% |
| Mansoor Delane | +850 | 10.5% |
| Akheem Mesidor | +2000 | 4.8% |
| Dillon Thieneman | +2000 | 4.8% |
| Malachi Lawrence | +2500 | 3.8% |
| Keldric Faulk | +3000 | 3.2% |
🔢 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year opening odds
Odds via FanDuel.
- David Bailey, Jets: +470
- Rueben Bain Jr., Buccaneers: +500
- Arvell Reese, Giants: +700
- Sonny Styles, Commanders: +850
- Caleb Downs, Cowboys: +850
- Mansoor Delane, Chiefs: +850
- Akheem Mesidor, Chargers: +2000
- Dillon Thieneman, Bears: +2000
- Malachi Lawrence, Cowboys: +2500
- Keldric Faulk, Titans: +3000
- Jacob Rodriguez, TBD: +3000
- Jermod McCoy, TBD: +4000
- Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, TBD: +4000
- Colton Hood, TBD: +4000
- D'Angelo Ponds, TBD: +4000
- Chris Johnson, Dolphins: +4000
- TJ Parker, TBD: +6000
- Keionte Scott, TBD: +7500
- CJ Allen, TBD: +7500
- Avieon Terrell, TBD: +7500
- Cashius Howell, TBD: +7500
- Treydan Stukes, TBD: +7500
- Brandon Cisse, TBD: +7500
- Anthony Hill Jr., TBD: +8000
- Jake Golday, TBD: +8000
- R Mason Thomas, TBD: +8000
💰 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year betting history
| Season | Player | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Carson Schwesinger, LB | Browns | +2800 |
| 2024 | Jared Verse, EDGE | Rams | +800 |
| 2023 | Will Anderson Jr., EDGE | Texans | +400 |
| 2022 | Sauce Gardner, CB | Jets | +1200 |
| 2021 | Micah Parsons, LB | Cowboys | +600 |
| 2020 | Chase Young, EDGE | Washington | +150 |
| 2019 | Nick Bosa, EDGE | 49ers | +700 |
| 2018 | Shaquille Leonard, LB | Colts | +3050 |
| 2017 | Marshon Lattimore, CB | Saints | N/A |
| 2016 | Joey Bosa, EDGE | Chargers | N/A |
| 2015 | Marcus Peters, CB | Chiefs | +3500 |
❓ NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year FAQs
Who is the favorite to win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year?
New York Jets pass rusher David Bailey, the second overall pick in the NFL draft, is the favorite by the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year odds. Bailey's odds (+470) imply a 17.5% probability he'll win DROY.
Who was the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year last year?
Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year for the 2025-26 regular season. Schwesinger's odds were +2800, implying a 3.45% probability he'd win DROY.
Has a team ever had both the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Rookie of the Year?
With C.J. Stroud winning OROY and Will Anderson winning DROY for the Houston Texans two years ago, it marked the fourth time in league history that both winners were on the same team.
The previous three times were with the New York Jets in 2022 (Garrett Wilson and Sauce Gardner), New Orleans Saints in 2017 (Alvin Kamara, Marshon Lattimore), and the Detroit Lions in 1967 (Mel Farr, Lem Barney).
Has a rookie ever won NFL MVP?
Jim Brown is the only rookie to ever win NFL MVP. He won both Offensive Rookie of the Year and MVP in 1957 for the Cleveland Browns after leading the league with 942 rushing yards.
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