Defensive end Nick Bosa was finally able to secure his first Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2022, finishing the campaign as the league leader in sacks with 18.5.
Despite the San Francisco star's massive season on the gridiron, three different pass rushers line up ahead of him for next season's DPOY award. Find out more below as odds have already hit the board for the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year odds
| Player | Team | Position | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Myles Garrett |  Cleveland Browns |
DE | +750 |
| Micah Parsons |  Dallas Cowboys |
LB | +750 |
| T.J. Watt |  Pittsburgh Steelers |
LB | +850 |
| Nick Bosa |  San Francisco 49ers |
DE | +1,000 |
| Ahmad Gardner |  Seattle Seahawks |
CB | +1,400 |
| Maxx Crosby |  Las Vegas Raiders |
DE | +1,500 |
| Haason Reddick |  Philadelphia Eagles |
LB | +2,000 |
| Brian Burns |  Carolina Panthers |
DE | +2,500 |
| Aaron Donald |  Los Angeles Rams |
DT | +2,500 |
| Quinnen Williams |  New York jets |
DT | +3,000 |
| Aidan Hutchinson |  Detroit Lions |
DE | +3,000 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on March 28, 2023.
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Favorites to win the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award
Myles Garrett (+750)
The Cleveland Browns' defense ain't great, but defensive end Myles Garrett sure is.
The 27-year-old continues to live up to his billing as a former No. 1 overall pick, having collected 74.5 sacks in just six seasons of NFL service.
Oddly enough, Garrett has yet to come away with Defensive Player of the Year, but will always be a top contender because of his innate ability to pressure the quarterback.
Micah Parsons (+750)
After winning Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2021, Micah Parsons ended the 2022 season with 13.5 sacks for the Dallas Cowboys.
The star pass rusher tallied 13 in his rookie season, resulting in the former Penn State star being named first-team All-Pro. Considering he set a new career-high in sacks and the Cowboys once again reached the postseason in his sophomore year, there's no doubt that Parsons can set new career highs in 2023.
T.J. Watt (+850)
T.J. Watt came away with the award in 2021, and if it wasn't for injuries last season, would have been a serious contender to repeat
The Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end suffered a pectoral injury in Week 1 against the Bengals and later underwent knee surgery in October.
The five-time Pro Bowler ultimately appeared in just 10 games last season, totaling just 5.5 sacks. Considering Watt racked up a total of 22.5 a year prior, expect similar numbers when he returns to the field healthy in September.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year betting trends
• Since this award was first given out in 1974, seven defensive players have claimed this award more than once. However, no defensive back has ever won it multiple times.
• The NFL DPOY odds board is filled with pass rushers for 2023, which is little surprise given that eight of the last 10 winners of the award totaled at least 11 sacks.
• While voters for the NFL MVP Award seem to take team success into the equation, the same hasn't necessarily been true for DPOY accolades. Four of the last eight winners of the DPOY award were on defenses that ranked outside the Top 10.
NFL Defensive Player of the Year history
A quick look at the NFL DPOY winners since 2000 and the position they played.
| Year | NFL DPOY Award Winner | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Nick Bosa | DE |
| 2021 | T.J. Watt | Edge |
| 2020 | Aaron Donald | DT |
| 2019 | Stephon Gilmore | CB |
| 2018 | Aaron Donald | DT |
| 2017 | Aaron Donald | DT |
| 2016 | Khalil Mack | Edge |
| 2015 | J.J. Watt | DE |
| 2014 | J.J. Watt | DE |
| 2013 | Luke Kuechly | LB |
| 2012 | J.J. Watt | DE |
| 2011 | Terrell Suggs | Edge |
| 2010 | Troy Polamalu | S |
| 2009 | Charles Woodson | DB |
| 2008 | James Harrison | Edge |
| 2007 | Bob Sanders | S |
| 2006 | Jason Taylor | Edge |
| 2005 | Brian Urlacher | LB |
| 2004 | Ed Reed | S |
| 2003 | Ray Lewis | LB |
| 2002 | Derrick Brooks | LB |
| 2001 | Michael Strahan | DE |
| 2000 | Ray Lewis | LB |
NFL Defensive Player of the Year winners by position
| Position | Number of DPOY awards |
|---|---|
| Linebacker | 17 |
| Defensive end | 13 |
| Defensive tackle | 10 |
| Cornerback | 6 |
| Safety | 5 |
Although linebackers have dominated this honor historically, defensive tackles have come on strongly lately, winning three of the last six NFL Defensive Player of the Year awards thanks to the dominance of Aaron Donald.
NFL DPOY Odds FAQs
Pass rushers Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons are the current DPOY favorites at +750.
The San Francisco 49ers' Nick Bosa won the 2022 DPOY award.
